Lake Dillon

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Lake Dillon
Lake Dillon -
Location Colorado
Lake type Reservoir
Basin countries United States
Surface area 3,233 acres (13 km²)
Shore length1 43 km
Surface elevation 2,748 m
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.
Location of Lake Dillon, Colorado
Location of Lake Dillon, Colorado

Lake Dillon is a mountain reservoir located in Dillon, Summit County, Colorado. It is about 70 miles (110 km) west of downtown Denver along Interstate 70.

Lake Dillon (a.k.a. Dillon Reservoir) is a popular camping destination, located 10 miles (16 km) west of the continental divide. It is also a favorite place for boating and fishing. There are many of shallow areas in the lake and multiple small islands. The elevation of the reservoir is 9,017 feet (2,748 m) above sea level.

Completed in September 1963, Dillon Reservoir is the largest water storage facility in the Denver Water system. The reservoir's capacity is over 250,000 acre feet (310,000,000 m³).

Building the dam required relocating the entire town of Dillon, and a hydroelectric plant to create the pre-existing Lake Dillion. (The former city of Dillion lies at the bottom of Lake Dillion & diving, swimming, water sking are prohibited.) The project diverts water from the Blue River Basin through the Harold D. Roberts Tunnel under the Continental Divide into the South Platte River Basin.

Dillon Dam is an earth-fill dam, 5,888 feet (1,794 m) long by 231 feet (70 m) above the Blue River stream bed. Dillon Reservoir's surface area of 3,233 acres (13 km²) and 26.8 miles (43 km) of shoreline support many recreational activities.

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