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.
| Lake Metigoshe State Park | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Lake Metigoshe State Park Location in North Dakota | |
| 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  |
History
editThe 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
editThe 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
editThe 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) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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