Klamath County
Upper Klamath Lake - West Side - Summer
Upper Klamath Lake (aka Klamath Lake) is about twenty miles long by eight miles wide and is considered to be the largest freshwater lake in Oregon. It was, of course, much larger before the Klamath Reclamation Project drained much of the marshland bordering the lake, converted it into farmland, and diverted a portion of it's water to agricultural use. Today, the lake is relatively shallow with it's deepest point at about 60 feet. The Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge protects the natural environment along the northern edge of the lake. The lake waters are naturally rich in nutrients and algae blooms in the lake waters create significant problems for the fish population. Competition for water use also generates challenges for those managing water levels in the lake. For those visiting the area, however, the lake offers wonderful recreational opportunities including canoeing and bird watching.
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