Ten Mile Lake (Cass County, Minnesota)

Ten Mile Lake is a lake located in north central Minnesota, United States. It is directly south of Walker and northwest of Hackensack. It is spring fed and is the deepest natural lake enclosed in Minnesota's borders. Ten Mile Lake covers over 5,046 acres (20.42 km2) with a maximum depth of 208 feet (63 m).[2] It is known for its especially clear and clean water, due to the fresh spring sources.

Ten Mile Lake
Location of Ten Mile Lake in Minnesota, USA.
Location of Ten Mile Lake in Minnesota, USA.
Ten Mile Lake
Location of Ten Mile Lake in Minnesota, USA.
Location of Ten Mile Lake in Minnesota, USA.
Ten Mile Lake
LocationCass County, Minnesota,
United States[1]
Coordinates46°58′N 94°35′W / 46.97°N 94.58°W / 46.97; -94.58
Basin countriesUnited States
Surface area5,046.68 acres (2,042.32 ha)
Max. depth208 ft (63 m)
Water volume260,892 acre⋅ft (321,806,000 m3)
Shore length124.83 mi (39.96 km)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Ten Mile Lake was named for its distance, 10 miles (16 km) from the Indian agency on the Leech Lake Indian Reservation.[3]

Neighboring lakes include Portage Lake to the north, and Birch Lake to the south. Ten Mile Lake is also the headwaters of the Boy River, which flows downstream through Boy Lake, Woman Lake, and eventually into the Leech Lake River and finally the Mississippi River. This is a popular canoe and kayak route, since there are not many portages, and it can be done in just a few days.[4]

Most of the property around Ten Mile Lake is owned privately, but several resorts offer visitors a place to stay for short vacations.

Invasive Species

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Despite efforts to prevent the spread of invasive species from other freshwater bodies in the Great Lakes area, zebra mussel larvae were found in Ten Mile Lake in October 2019.[5]

Residents are also taking precautions to prevent the spread of spiny waterflea to Ten Mile Lake, which have affected the ecosystems of other freshwater bodies in the Great Lakes area.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ten Mile Lake (Cass County, Minnesota)
  2. ^ "Ten Mile Lake information report". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
  3. ^ Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 98.
  4. ^ "Boy River Canoe Route" (PDF). United States Forest Service. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  5. ^ "Water Sample Reveals Zebra Mussel Larvae in Ten Mile Lake in Cass County". Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
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