Lake Springfield
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lake Springfield | |
|---|---|
| Location | Illinois |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Primary sources | Lick Creek, Sugar Creek |
| Primary outflows | Sugar Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 4,260-acre (17.2 km²) |
| Settlements | Springfield, Illinois |
Lake Springfield is a 4,260 acre (17.0 km²) artificial lake located in the city of Springfield, Illinois, southeast of downtown. It is 561 feet (171 m) above sea level. It was formed in 1931-35 by building Spaulding Dam across Sugar Creek, a tributary of the Sangamon River.
The lake was created as a source of water for Springfield and to provide coolant for the City Water Light & Power coal-fired electrical generating plant. It has also served as a focus of local recreation.
Lake Springfield can be seen from Interstate 55. The limited-access highway crosses the lake on two bridges between mileposts 88 and 89.
Lake Springfield is near the campus of the University of Illinois at Springfield. It also borders Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden, a local arboretum, and the Henson C. Robinson Zoo.
