The beautiful Lake McDonald is the largest lake in Glacier
National Park. It is located at 48°35′N 113°55′W in Flathead County in the U.S.
state of Montana. Lake McDonald is about 16 kilometers long and 1.6 km wide and
472 feet deep, filling a valley formed by a combination of erosion and glacial
activity. Lake McDonald lies at an elevation of 3,153 feet and is on the west
side of the Continental Divide.
The Going-to-the-Sun Road parallels the lake along its
southern shoreline. The long fjord-like lake is surrounded by mountains on the
north, south, and east with the Continental Divide, provides a spectacular
backdrop for the lake and also act as a rain block. The surface area of the
lake is 6,823 acres approximately 27.6 km². The lake is home to several native
species of trout, and other game fish. Catchable species include, but are not
limited to west-slope cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, bull trout, lake trout,
Lake Superior whitefish, mountain whitefish, kokanee salmon landlocked sockeye,
and suckers.
Though, the lake is nutrient-poor and is not considered a
prime fishing destination. Grizzly bears, black bear, moose, and mule deer are
found in many places near the lake but are most common on the north shore. The
lake is surrounded by a dense coniferous forest dominated by various species of
spruce, fir, and larch. At the westernmost section of the lake in Apgar there
is a National Park Service visitor center, very limited lodging and dining
facilities and outboard powerboats available for rental. Lake McDonald Lodging
is the largest lodging facility on the lake and is approximately 8 kilometers
east along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Lake McDonald Creek flows into and drains
from the lake, and empties into the Middle Fork Flathead River shortly after. The
wildlife-viewing here can be remarkable, with species including bighorn sheep,
mountain goat, elk, black bear, and whitetail and mule deer.Source: Charismatic Planet
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