Zoie Clift
travelarkansas@gmail.com
As the long Memorial Day weekend approaches, many willbe heading to the lakes to cool off and enjoy the days.
Everything from party barges to kayaks
to johnboats to sail boats, etcc…will make use of the many lakes and rivers
found here.
With over 600,000 surface acres of lakes, there’s
plenty of space for everyone’s favorite water activity.
Arkansas’s 11 largest lakes cover around 300,000
acres, approximately half of what the state has to offer. Hundreds of small
lakes, created by nature or by various federal, state and private agencies,
account for the other half. Until the early part of this century, all of the
state’s larger lakes were natural “old river” or “oxbow”
impoundments along the Mississippi, Arkansas, White and other rivers. The U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers introduced large man-made lakes to
acres, approximately half of what the state has to offer. Hundreds of small
lakes, created by nature or by various federal, state and private agencies,
account for the other half. Until the early part of this century, all of the
state’s larger lakes were natural “old river” or “oxbow”
impoundments along the Mississippi, Arkansas, White and other rivers. The U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers introduced large man-made lakes to
Arkansas in 1942,Beaver
,
Bull Shoals
,
Norfork
and
Greers Ferry Lake
in
northern Arkansas are popular recreation lakes for boating in Arkansas. All
types of boat rentals can be found at docks, resorts and marinas if you don’t
have your own. In west central Arkansas the watery playgrounds are Lakes
Ouachita
,
Hamilton
,
Catherine
and
DeGray
with the same
type of rentals available on the northern Arkansas impoundments.
The Arkansas River Valley area is home to
Lake Dardanelle
, plus
Blue Mountain
,
Cove
,
Shores
, and
Ozark
lakes, all
popular recreation areas. Smaller bodies of water in the region include Lake
Ludwig, Horsehead Lake and
Lake Sylvia
. These
three are perfect spots for those who bring their own boats and such with them
since marinas are scarce.
Lake Dardanelle
, plus
Blue Mountain
,
Cove
,
Shores
, and
Ozark
lakes, all
popular recreation areas. Smaller bodies of water in the region include Lake
Ludwig, Horsehead Lake and
Lake Sylvia
. These
three are perfect spots for those who bring their own boats and such with them
since marinas are scarce.
The southwest corner of the state boasts the Tri-Lakes
of
DeQueen
,
Gillham
and
Dierks
, while
Millwood
, though better
known for fishing, is also popular for water play. Nearby
Lake Greeson
is a hot
spot for boating too.
of
DeQueen
,
Gillham
and
Dierks
, while
Millwood
, though better
known for fishing, is also popular for water play. Nearby
Lake Greeson
is a hot
spot for boating too.
Smaller lakes such as
White Oak
,
Lake Columbia
,
Lake Monticello
, Lake Erling, and Lake Jack Lee dot the expanse that
is south central and south east Arkansas. The behemoth in the area is
Lake Chicot
, a
20-mile-long, former main channel of the Mississippi River that is the biggest
oxbow lake in North America and Arkansas’s largest natural lake. Further north
are
Storm Creek
and
Bear Creek Lakes
in the St. Francis National Forest.
White Oak
,
Lake Columbia
,
Lake Monticello
, Lake Erling, and Lake Jack Lee dot the expanse that
is south central and south east Arkansas. The behemoth in the area is
Lake Chicot
, a
20-mile-long, former main channel of the Mississippi River that is the biggest
oxbow lake in North America and Arkansas’s largest natural lake. Further north
are
Storm Creek
and
Bear Creek Lakes
in the St. Francis National Forest.
