Lake Puyallup

Lake Puyallup
Glacial lakes Lake Puyallup & Early Lake Russell
Lake Puyallup is located in Washington (state)
Lake Puyallup
Lake Puyallup
LocationPuyallup River
Pierce County, Washington
Coordinates47°13′25″N 122°20′40″W / 47.223655°N 122.344414°W / 47.223655; -122.344414
Lake typeGlacial lake (former)
Primary inflowsVashon Glacier
Primary outflowsOhop channel
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length17 miles (27 km)
Max. width9 miles (14 km)
Max. depth595 feet (181 m)
Residence timeless than 200 years
Surface elevation350 m (1,150 ft)
References[1]

Lake Puyallup developed along the south edge of the Puget Sound Glacier. The glacier was in retreat northward after having reached its most southerly point. Drainage off the north face of Mount Rainier and the melting ice of the glacier was trapped in the valley of the Puyallup River. As the glacier moved north, the lake grew until it reached its largest capacity with the glacier at the glacial front across the Puyallup valley just south of Commencement Bay at Tacoma and northern bend of the White River at Auburn. When the ice retreated further north, it was reduced in depth and volume and takes on the name of Lake Tacoma.[1]

  1. ^ a b Washington Geological Survey, Bulletin No. 8; Glaciation of the Puget Sound Region; J. Harlen Bretz; Olympia, Wash, Frank M. Lamborn Public Printer; 1913