| Convict Lake | |
|---|---|
| Lake and Mount Morrison in late spring | |
| Location | Mono County, California |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 0.9 mi (1.4 km) |
| Max. width | 0.4 mi (0.6 km) |
| Surface elevation | 7,850 ft (2,393 m) |
Convict Lake (elevation 7,850 feet (2,393 m)), is a lake in the Sherwin Range of the Sierra Nevada in California, USA. It is known for its fishing and the dramatic mountains (including Mount Morrison) that surround the lake.
The lake was named after an incident in 1871, where a group of convicts escaped from prison in Carson City. A posse, led by Sheriff Robert Morrison, encountered the convicts near the head of what is now Convict Creek. Morrison was killed in the encounter, and Mount Morrison was named after him.[1]
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The lake has a long history of tourism, this has led to the development of a campground. There are roughly one hundred camp sites, these are often nearly filled during peak fishing season. The Convict Lake General Store is located near the mouth of the lake, along with a few cabins. Fish included at the lake are Rainbow trout, German brown trout, and a species of sucker fish. Due to the high demand of fishing in the lake and stream, the lake is stocked once a week during the summer with rainbow trout, supplied by nearby hatcheries.
In February 1990, Convict Lake was the site of a major drowning. In all, three teenagers from Camp O'Neal, an institution for juvenile delinquents located at the lake, and four would-be rescuers drown in the freezing water. Another youth and a volunteer fire chief were rescued. Shortly before their deaths, the youths were warned that the ice was too thin to support their weight but failed to heed the warning.[2]