What are some fun facts about Bear Lake?

Bear Lake has been called the “Caribbean of the Rockies” for its unique turquoise-blue color, which is due to the reflection of calcium carbonate (limestone) deposits suspended in the lake. Its water properties have led to the evolution of several unique species of fauna that occur only within the lake.



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Summer recreational activities abound as sailing, waterskiing, and boating attract thousands to the lake. Bear Lake is also noted for its surrounding natural habitat and the production of succulent red raspberries, as well as cisco and lake trout from within the lake itself.

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Bear Lake contains abundant suspended microscopic particles of white-colored calcium carbonate (lime) that reflect the water's natural blue color back to the surface, giving the lake its intense turquoise-blue color.

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Bear Lake is a natural freshwater lake on the Idaho–Utah border in the Western United States. About 109 square miles in size, it is split about equally between the two states; its Utah portion comprises the second-largest natural freshwater lake in Utah, after Utah Lake.



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Bear Lake was formed by earthquake activity along the eastern Bear Lake fault line, causing the Bear Lake Valley to drop and creating a natural freshwater lake.

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Blue-Green Algae is in fact not an algae at all, it is a bacteria (cyanobacteria). This type of bacteria is found in many lakes, ponds, and reservoirs across the world. They are usually present in low numbers, but can become very abundant in warm, shallow, undisturbed surface water that receives a lot of sunlight.

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The decline has for years forced crews to push the docks forward to reach the lake's receding shoreline. The lake is still more than 14.5 feet below its capacity and hasn't been full since 2011, according to the water district.

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Bear Lake contains abundant suspended microscopic particles of white-colored calcium carbonate (lime) that reflect the water's natural blue color back to the surface, giving the lake its intense turquoise-blue color.

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If you plan to camp overnight, please use one of the many public and private camping areas around the lake (see map). No camping after 10 p.m. on the public beaches or exposed bed of Bear Lake.

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Yes, there can be bears at Bear Lake. It is extremely rare to see them near the lake, they tend to stick to the higher elevations in the forested areas. Only black bears can be found in the Bear Lake area.

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There are 13 species of fish found in the waters of Bear Lake. Of those 13, 4 are endemic (found only in Bear Lake). The 4 endemics species are Bonneville cisco, Bonneville whitefish, Bear Lake whitefish, and Bear Lake sculpin.

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Bear Lake is a natural freshwater lake on the Idaho-Utah border in the Western United States. About 109 square miles (280 km2) in size, it is split about equally between the two states.

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People will see trumpeter swans escorting their broods through the emerald-green marsh and feel gratified that mule deer, moose, badger, beaver, trout, garter snakes, and leopard frogs will have homes for a long time to come here at Bear Lake NWR.

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