LAKE MINNETONKA HISTORY

 

 

 

ISLANDS: The number of islands in Lake Minnetonka varies according to the different definitions of islands. The 1993-revised U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps lists 38 islands. The 1944 Hudson’s Indexed Map of Lake Minnetonka and a 1964 map made by the Hennepin County Highway department lists 23 islands. Dredging and filling of the lake’s original features has created, connected and obliterated islands.

STATISTICS: The lake is made up of a number of a series of bays, points and islands with 31 interconnecting channels covering 22.2 square miles of water (14,043 acres) and 125 miles of main lake shoreline not counting islands and channels

  • The drainage extends over 123 square miles; the deepest point is Crystal Bay (101 feet).
  • 11 miles long,
  • 6 miles wide
  • 14,310 acres of water
  • 101 feet deep (Crystal Bay)
  • 125 miles of shoreline (some older statistics list 110 miles)
  • Contains 15 lakes of 3 different kinds
  • Formed by melting ice blocks in glacial moraines 15,000 years ago
  • 929.4 feet above sea level at the outlet, Grays Bay dam
  • 130,340,400,000 gallons or 400,000 acre feet water capacity
  • 10.9 miles greatest length (Halsteds Bay to Grays Bay)
  • 30 feet average depth
  • April 12 – 17 is range of average ice-out dates
  • 28 inches maximum ice thickness
  • 20 – 24 inches average ice thickness
  • 123 square miles is area of watershed, including Minnetonka
  • 922.7 feet above sea level modern low water level, December 20, 1937
  • 931.43 feet above sea level modern high water level, Sept. 12, 1951

 

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