West Okoboji Lake

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West Okoboji Lake

Location	Dickinson County, Iowa
Coordinates	43°23′04″N, 095°09′34″WCoordinates: 43°23′04″N, 095°09′34″W
Catchment area	22 sq mi (57 km²)
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	3,847 acres (15.57 km²)
Average depth	39 ft (12 m)
Max. depth	136 ft (41 m)
Settlements	Arnolds Park

West Okoboji Lake, in the Iowa Great Lakes region.

West Okoboji Lake is a natural body of water, approximately 3,847 acres (15.57 km²) in area, in Dickinson County in northwest Iowa in the United States. It is part of the chain of lakes known as the Iowa Great Lakes. The town of Arnolds Park, Iowa sits on its shore. The Dakotah Indian name for the lake was Minnetonka, meaning "great waters".

Its maximum depth is 136 feet (41 m), making it the deepest lake in Iowa and second in size only to Spirit Lake. The mean depth is 39 feet (12 m). The drainage area of the lake is approximately 22 square miles (57 km²).

[edit] Geology

Geologically, the lake, like its neighbors, is a glacial pothole, a remnant of the most recent ice age approximately 13,000 years ago.

[edit] Recreation

West Okoboji is often considered to be one of three blue water lakes in the world. The other two are Lake Geneva in Switzerland and Lake Louise in Canada.

The depth of the lake makes it a popular regional destination for motor boating, water skiing, sailing, and swimming. The lake is also a popular fishing destination in the region. The main catches in the lake are yellow perch, bluegill, and walleye. It also contains significant populations of smallmouth bass, northern pike, muskie, crappie and white bass, black bass.