Woahink Lake (hÅ’ hingk) extends further below sea level than any other lake dammed by sand dunes along the coast of the U.S. state of Oregon. The lake fills a depression in the Siltcoos River watershed about 3 miles (5 km) from the Pacific Ocean south of Florence along U.S. Route 101. The lowest point of the lake, which is up to 74 feet (23 m) deep, is about 36 feet (11 m) below sea level. The lake drains south to Siltcoos Lake via Woahink Creek. The lake's name may derive from the Siuslaw language.
GeologyEdit
Woahink Lake RV Resort. Florence Oregon 4K - Florence Oregon Dunes National Recreational Area.
Like Siltcoos Lake, Woahink Lake is a submerged remnant of a Siltcoos River delta that existed before the most recent ice age. The lake formed after melting glaciers caused a rise in sea level that drowned the lower reaches of Oregon's coastal rivers. Sediments from the sluggish rivers formed sand dunes, behind which the ancestral mouths of rivers like the Siltcoos became lakes. Unlike Siltcoos Lake, which is very shallow, Woahink Lake fills a narrow steep-walled depression along what was probably a tributary of the ancestral river.
WatershedEdit
Covering about 7 square miles (18Â km2), Woahink Lake's drainage basin lies between a dune complex, part of Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, on the west and foothills of the Oregon Coast Range on the east. U.S. Route 101 runs along the west side of the lake. Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park borders the northwest corner of the lake, and the unincorporated community of North Beach lies between Woahink and Siltcoos lakes. North Beach and other residential areas near the lake are part of Dunes City. Except for the state park, most of the shoreline and the land in the basin is privately owned. Rainfall averages 80 inches (2,000Â mm) a year, and coniferous forest covers much of the undeveloped land.
RecreationEdit
The lake is popular for a variety of activities, including fishing. Species include largemouth bass, rainbow and coastal cutthroat trout, yellow perch, and others. The part of the state park on the east side of the highway near Woahink Lake has boat ramps, a roped-off swimming area, group tent camps, picnic areas, and a meeting hall. Lake Woahink Seaplane Base is located at the lake. Base headquarters are in Florence.
See alsoEdit
- List of lakes in Oregon
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Media related to Woahink Lake at Wikimedia Commons
