Grand Lake St. Marys
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| Grand Lake Saint Marys | |
|---|---|
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| Location | Ohio |
| Coordinates | |
| Lake type | artificial lake |
| Primary inflows | Wabash River |
| Primary outflows | Wabash River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 13.2 km (8.2 mi) |
| Max. width | 4.5 km (2.8 mi) |
| Surface area | 13,500 acres (55 km²) |
| Average depth | 5-7 ft (1.5-2 m) |
| Surface elevation | 869 ft (265 m) |
| Islands | Safety Island |
Grand Lake Saint Marys is an artificial lake located west of St. Marys and southeast of Celina in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Ohio. The lake covers 13,500 acres (55 km²) in Auglaize and Mercer counties. Grand Lake Saint Marys is the largest inland lake in Ohio in terms of land area, but is extremely shallow, with an average depth of only 5 to 7 feet (1.5 to 2 m). It was constructed in the early 1800s as a reservoir for the Miami and Erie Canal. In the 1890's oil was discovered in the area, and oil derricks were set up in the lake. In 1949, it was made one of Ohio's first state parks. The lake and the surrounding state park are a popular site for recreational fishing and camping, and there are four swimming beaches. At one point it was the largest human-made body of water in the world.
Officially, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, the name of the lake is simply "Grand Lake".[citation needed]. The State of Ohio recognizes the name as "Grand Lake St. Marys" and the lake is nearly always printed on maps as "Grand Lake St. Marys".
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