Lake Metigoshe State Park | |
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Location | Roland Township, Bottineau County, North Dakota, United States |
Nearest city | Bottineau, North Dakota |
Coordinates | 48°59′12″N 100°19′26″W / 48.98667°N 100.32389°W |
Area | 1,508.53 acres (610.48 ha)[1] |
Elevation | 2,139 ft (652 m)[2] |
Established | 1937 |
Administered by | North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department |
Designation | North Dakota state park |
Website | Official website ![]() |
Lake Metigoshe State Park is a public recreation area occupying some 1,500 acres (610 ha) on the shores of Lake Metigoshe in the Turtle Mountains, 14 miles northeast of Bottineau, North Dakota, on the Canada–US border.[3] The state park lies adjacent to the southwest corner of the much larger Turtle Mountain Provincial Park in Manitoba. A small portion of the lake extends northward into the Rural Municipality of Winchester but is not part of either park.
History
[edit]The name Lake Metigoshe is derived from the Ojibwe phrase mitigoshi-waashegami-zaaga'igan meaning "clearwater lake of scrub-oaks." The area was also once home to the Blackfoot, Hidatsa, and Assiniboine peoples.[4]
The park was developed by workers with the WPA who arrived at the site beginning in 1934. Their improvements included construction of a lodge, recreation rooms large enough for 200 people, roads, and various out buildings.[5] A stone inscribed "WPA 1938" found near the park entrance commemorates their work.[6] The park was formally established on February 17, 1937.[4]
Activities and amenities
[edit]The park offers swimming, canoeing, sailing, water-skiing and other water sports, modern and primitive camping areas, and picnicking. Lake Metigoshe has northern pike, walleye, and perch for fishing. Winter activities include snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, skating, sledding, and ice fishing.[3] The Turtle Mountain Outdoor Learning Center offers ecology, conservation, and outdoor recreation programs.[7]
Events
[edit]The Club de Skinautique water-skiers practice and perform on Lake Metigoshe. Known as the "Skinautiques," the club has performed water skiing shows every summer since 1958.[8]
Climate
[edit]Climate data for Lake Metigoshe State Park, North Dakota, 1991–2020 normals: 2142ft (653m) | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 51 (11) | 51 (11) | 69 (21) | 80 (27) | 90 (32) | 91 (33) | 97 (36) | 98 (37) | 92 (33) | 84 (29) | 64 (18) | 50 (10) | 98 (37) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 41.4 (5.2) | 39.8 (4.3) | 53.1 (11.7) | 71.5 (21.9) | 81.8 (27.7) | 82.4 (28.0) | 89.8 (32.1) | 90.4 (32.4) | 83.5 (28.6) | 73.2 (22.9) | 52.2 (11.2) | 40.2 (4.6) | 90.1 (32.3) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 15.9 (−8.9) | 20.4 (−6.4) | 32.1 (0.1) | 49.8 (9.9) | 62.7 (17.1) | 71.8 (22.1) | 76.5 (24.7) | 76.1 (24.5) | 66.8 (19.3) | 50.1 (10.1) | 32.1 (0.1) | 19.9 (−6.7) | 47.8 (8.8) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 5.4 (−14.8) | 8.8 (−12.9) | 21.4 (−5.9) | 38.2 (3.4) | 51.1 (10.6) | 60.9 (16.1) | 65.8 (18.8) | 64.2 (17.9) | 54.9 (12.7) | 39.9 (4.4) | 23.6 (−4.7) | 10.6 (−11.9) | 37.1 (2.8) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | −5.2 (−20.7) | −2.8 (−19.3) | 10.8 (−11.8) | 26.5 (−3.1) | 39.4 (4.1) | 50.0 (10.0) | 55.1 (12.8) | 52.3 (11.3) | 42.9 (6.1) | 29.7 (−1.3) | 15.1 (−9.4) | 1.2 (−17.1) | 26.3 (−3.2) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | −27.7 (−33.2) | −24.9 (−31.6) | −14.6 (−25.9) | 9.2 (−12.7) | 25.4 (−3.7) | 40.4 (4.7) | 47.7 (8.7) | 43.7 (6.5) | 32.6 (0.3) | 16.3 (−8.7) | −4.8 (−20.4) | −19.7 (−28.7) | −29.5 (−34.2) |
Record low °F (°C) | −46 (−43) | −35 (−37) | −40 (−40) | −10 (−23) | 17 (−8) | 33 (1) | 41 (5) | 37 (3) | 25 (−4) | 6 (−14) | −22 (−30) | −35 (−37) | −46 (−43) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.48 (12) | 0.65 (17) | 0.79 (20) | 1.01 (26) | 2.67 (68) | 3.88 (99) | 3.14 (80) | 2.39 (61) | 1.71 (43) | 1.40 (36) | 0.85 (22) | 0.62 (16) | 19.59 (500) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 9.8 (25) | 8.1 (21) | 7.7 (20) | 3.3 (8.4) | 1.9 (4.8) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 2.8 (7.1) | 8.7 (22) | 8.7 (22) | 51 (130.3) |
Source 1: NOAA (1981-2010 snowfall)[9][10] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: XMACIS (temp records & monthly max/mins)[11] |
References
[edit]- ^ "State Parks Data Table". North Dakota Geographic Information Systems. December 26, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
- ^ "Lake Metigoshe". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ a b "Lake Metigoshe State Park". North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ a b "Lake Metigoshe State Park: History". North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Archived from the original on May 22, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Overview". North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ "WPA Rock at Lake Metigoshe". North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
- ^ "Outdoor Learning Centers". North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
- ^ "Club de Skinautique Ski Shows at Lake Metigoshe". Bottineau Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
- ^ "Lake Metigoshe State Park, North Dakota 1991-2020 Monthly Normals". Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ "Lake Metigoshe State Park, North Dakota 1981-2010 Monthly Normals". Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ "xmACIS". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
External links
[edit]- Lake Metigoshe State Park North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department
- Lake Metigoshe State Park Map North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department