Lake Calhoun

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Lake Calhoun

Two fishermen cast off the dock of the lake at dusk, with the Minneapolis skyline in the background
Location Minneapolis, Minnesota
Coordinates 44°56′31″N 93°18′44″W / 44.94194°N 93.31222°W / 44.94194; -93.31222Coordinates: 44°56′31″N 93°18′44″W / 44.94194°N 93.31222°W / 44.94194; -93.31222
Basin countries United States
Surface area 401 acres (1.62 km2)
Average depth 82 ft (25 m)
Max. depth 87 ft (27 m)

Lake Calhoun is the largest lake in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and part of the city's Chain of Lakes. Surrounded by city park land and circled by bike and walking trails, it is popular for many outdoor activities. The lake has an area of 401 acres (1.62 km2) and a maximum depth of 87 feet (27 m).

Lake Calhoun's eastern shore, in mid-July.

The lake is part of the Grand Rounds Scenic Byway, connecting with Lake of the Isles on the northeast, Cedar Lake on the northwest, and Lake Harriet on the south. The trail system has a 3.4-mile (5.5 km) trail around Lake Calhoun for bicyclists and skaters and a 3.2-mile (5.1 km) trail around Lake Calhoun for pedestrians. Both of these trails connect to the larger trail system via connections to Lake of the Isles and Lake Harriet. In addition, the Midtown Greenway Trail is located just north of the lake and just north of Lake Street. The lake itself is popular for canoeing, kayaking, and windsurfing, and it has three swimming beaches. The three beaches are Calhoun North Beach on the north side of the lake, Calhoun 32nd Beach on the east side and Calhoun Thomas Beach on the south side. Surrounding park land offers parking, picnicking, volleyball, and athletic fields. It is also home of sailing, hosting the Calhoun Yacht Club, the Lake Calhoun Sailing School, as well as local high school teams and the University of St Thomas Sailing Team.

A plaque on the east side of the lake commemorates the first home built in Minneapolis by Gideon Pond, a missionary, in the 1830s. On the west side is located the Bakken Museum, which is devoted to the study of electricity in life.

The name

Lake Calhoun during the winter with the Minneapolis skyline in the background.
Originally called by the Dakota "Mde Maka Ska", which meant White Earth Lake,[1] settlers later named it with the Dakota name "Medoza" or Loon Lake. The United States Secretary of War, John C. Calhoun, sent the Army to survey the area that would surround Fort Snelling in 1817. Calhoun had also authorized the construction of Fort Snelling, one of the earliest settlements in the state. The surveyors renamed the water body "Lake Calhoun" in his honor. The Fort Snelling Military Reservation survey map created by Lt. James L. Thompson in 1839 clearly shows the lake as bearing the name "Calhoun."[2]

Because John C. Calhoun was an outspoken defender and advocate of slavery, the Minneapolis Park Board was presented in 2011 with a proposal to consider changing the name of the lake to honor Hubert H. Humphrey.[3][4] However, the Park Board attorney wrote an opinion stating that only the state's commissioner of natural resources can change the name of a lake, and also that state law prohibits the commissioner from changing a lake name that has existed for 40 years.[5][6]

Fish

The lake contains black crappie, bluegill, bowfin, common carp, hybrid sunfish, largemouth bass, northern pike, pumpkinseed, tiger muskellunge, walleye, white sucker, and yellow perch.[7] In 1991 the then Minnesota state record tiger muskellunge at 33 pound 8 ounce was caught in the lake.[8] Some fish consumption guideline restrictions have been placed on the lake's bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, and white sucker due to mercury and/or PFOS contamination.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Cairn, Rich and Susan (2003). "History of Minnehaha Creek Watershed". Minnehahacreek.org. p. page 19. Retrieved 2009-08-06. 
  2. ↑ Johnson, Frederick L. Richfield: Minnesota's Oldest Suburb. Richfield Historical Society Press. 2009. p.2
  3. ↑ "Lake Calhoun getting a name change?". Kare 11. Retrieved 20 May 2011. 
  4. ↑ "Minn. lake named for slavery supporter draws fire". Associated Press. Retrieved 21 May 2011. 
  5. ↑ Lonetree, Anthony. "Park Board attorney says it can't change Lake Calhoun's name". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Retrieved 14 June 2011. 
  6. ↑ "83A.05 CHANGING AND GIVING NAMES TO WATER BODIES.". 2010 Minnesota Statutes. Retrieved 18 July 2011. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Lake information report: Minnesota DNR". MN DNR. MN DNR. 2005-07-25. 
  8. ↑ http://www.minnesotasportsmanmag.com/fishing/muskies-pike-fishing/MN_0705_02/index2.html#cont

External links

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