Sandpoint lies on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, one of the most beautiful lakes in North America. Lake Pend Oreille is so deep and quiet the U.S. Navy has a submarine research facility located here. There are few lakes that host the scenery that Lake Pend Oreille provides. The lakes protected coves make for great water skiing, wakeboarding as well as an overnight camping adventure. The prevailing winds from the southwest provide sailing enthusiasts many days of quality boating. There are numerous sailing regattas all summer long providing sailing as well as social enjoyment. Because of its size, waves can approach the size of ocean and sea waves, though, for the most part, Lake Pend Oreille is a calm body of water. Since winds are more calm than not, windsurfing isn't seen as often as other great water/wind sports areas like the Columbia River. However, parasailing is growing in popularity.
Lake Pend Oreille is a lake in North Idaho, with a surface area of 148 square miles. With 111 miles of coastline, it is 65 miles long, and 1,150 feet deep in some regions, making it the fifth deepest in the US. It is fed by the Clark Fork River and the Pack River, and drains via the Pend Oreille River. It is surrounded by national forests and several small towns. All but the southern tip of the lake is in Bonner County. The southern tip is in Kootenai County and is home to Farragut State Park, formerly the "Farragut Naval Training Station" during World War II.
The lake is home to many species of fish, including rainbow trout, lake trout, perch, crappie, bass, whitefish and kamloops. The forests consist of ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, poplar and western larch. Local animal species include whitetail deer, squirrels, black bears, grizzly bears, coyotes and bobcats, along with bald eagles, osprey, owls, hummingbirds, hawks, woodpeckers, ducks and the mountain bluebird.
I especially appreciate the mountain goats of Scotchman Peaks. See this blog post to peruse really cool pics: http://activerain.com/blogsview/1804080/photos-of-the-wild-goats-of-scotchman-s-peak-sandpoint-blog
Following this I will post several sunset pictures of the lake. Here are some pastoral photographs of our beautiful, majestic, and gargantuan Lake Pend Oreille:
Blue Lake Pend Oreille
Lake Pend Oreille Mountain Range
Lake Pend Oreille is massive
Lake Pend Oreille is beautiful
Lake Pend Oreille is mysterious
Views of Lake Pend Oreille from the Mountain
Views of Lake Pend Oreille in Autumn
Sailing Lake Pend Oreille
Gary Lirette, featured in Where To Retire magazine and host of the Tuesday noon local radio shows: North Idaho Business as well as North Idaho Arts.
E-mail Gary or call 208-610-1384
Read Gary's Blogs
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