Lake Coeur d’Alene Facts:
- · Name was given by French fur trappers impressed by the sharp trading skills of the CdA tribe; their own name for the lake means “those who are found here,” or “the discovered people.”
- · Is a natural but dam-controlled by the Post Falls dam on the Spokane River
- · Is fed by 2 rivers: the CdA and St.Joe with Spokane River as outflow
- · David Thompson is the first recorded European explorer to see the lake in 1807
- · Covers an area of 50 square miles; is 25 miles long and 1-3 miles wide with 109 miles of shoreline.
- · Has a surface elevation of 2128’ above sea level
- · Has average depth of 120’; deepest “hole” is 220’ (south of Driftwood Point)
- · Several celebrities have homes on Lake CdA: Kim Kardashian, George Clooney, Matt Mc Conaugey for some.
- · Most expensive home/property is the 18 acre, $27.5million place on Windy Bay
- · Typical summer temperatures: The lake’s average summer surface temperature (June through August) is 67.5°F.
- · Swimming temperature: Many people find water temperatures between 70°F and 78°F comfortable for swimming; peak temp is 76o in mid-August.
- Lake Coeur d’Alene has several “sister lakes” in the Northern Idaho panhandle. These include Hayden Lake, Pend Oreille and others. All are clear, deep and mostly cold.