Big Bear Lake is a reservoir in the San Bernardino Mountains, in San Bernardino County, California, USA. At a surface altitude of 6,750 feet (2,060 m), it has an east-west length of about 7 mi (11 km) and is approximately 2.5 miles (4.0 km) in its widest measurement, although lake widths average a little more than 1 mi (1.6 km). This estimate is based on a lake that has a water level that can be maintained optimally. At the end of the dam, Big Bear measured the deepest water at 72 ft (22 m). It is a lake that is fully fed with snow, has no other means of rigid or mechanical replenishment.
Located 100 miles (160 km) east of Los Angeles and surrounded by San Bernardino National Forest, Big Bear Lake is accessible through four scenic highways: Highway 330 from Highland, Highway 38 from Redlands, Highway 18 from Victorville and Highway 18 from San Bernardino.
Video Big Bear Lake
Defines the environment Edit
Big Bear Lake is geophysically defined by North Shore and South Shore. Big Bear Boulevard follows the South Shore and leads to the Big Bear Valley as a continuation of Highway 18 (called Rim of the World Highway, which is approaching from the west). Big Bear Boulevard winds east through Papoose Bay, Boulder Bay and Metcalf Bay, then leads directly east to the town of Big Bear Lake. At a point called The Village, the road turns toward the lake and then curves eastward to Moonridge, ski resorts in Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, and Stanfield Cutoff, a causeway located near the eastern end of the lake. Big Bear Boulevard then continues east to Big Bear City, which is an unrelated community despite its name. Bear Creek and Siberia Creek flows into the lake and Bear Creek flows out of the lake, traveling about 9 miles (14 km) southwest to the Santa Ana River.
The North Shore (Highway 38) begins at Dam Junction of Highway 18. It passes east past the historic Gray's Landing, a famous 1920s fishing camp. It turned north around Grout Bay and traveled through the unrelated town of Fawnskin. The winding road crosses the North Shore through the Forestry field, past the Big Bear Solar Observatory, passes the Big Bear Discovery Center, passes Serrano Campground (USA), accesses the public boat launch, and Stanfield Cutoff. North Shore Drive continues east to Big Bear City and Baldwin Lake.
The main approach to Big Bear is via Highway 330 from San Bernardino through Running Springs where it intersects Highway 18. Highway 18 results pass through Arrowbear and Snow Valley, over 7.200Ã, ftÃ, (2,190m) Lake Vista Summit and traverse 15Ã, mi (24Ã, km) "Arctic Circle" for total distance 33Ã, mi (53Ã, km) . Big Bear Lake is also accessible by Hwy 38 (referred to as 'The Backside') at San Bernardino (10) Freeway near Redlands, and takes the route of 52Ã, mi, mi (84Ã,km) Bear City in the east. From the north of the Lucerne Valley, accessible by Highway 18 via the entrance to Baldwin Lake and through the north side, to Big Bear City.
Maps Big Bear Lake
Climate Edit
According to the National Weather Service, the warmest month in Big Bear is July, with daily average temperatures of 64.7 ° F (18.2 ° C). The coolest month is January, with a daily average temperature of 34.1 Â ° F (1.2 Â ° C). Averages 1.7 days each year with a height of 90Ã, Â ° F (32Ã, Â ° C) or higher. Frozen temperatures have occurred in every month and occur an average of 186 days each year, on average from 24 September to 4 June. With the dating record period only back to 1960, the highest recorded temperature was 94 Â ° F (34%). Â ° C), last recorded on July 15, 1998, while the lowest was -25 Â ° F (-32 Â ° C) on January 29, 1979.
Due to the elevation of 6,790 to 7,200 feet (2,070-2,190 m) from the weather station, rainfall is greater than in the lowlands of San Bernardino County, averaging 21.15 at (537 mm) a year. The maximum rainfall of 24 hours is 9.43 in (240 mm) on December 6, 1966. Precipitation measurable usually occurs 44.9 days a year. Thunderstorms sometimes produce heavy rain, even in mid-summer (when most of the southern California lowland locations are fairly dry). The Big Bear Lake climate is Csb (Warm-summer Mediterranean) under the KÃÆ'¶ppen climate classification.
In contrast to most of southern California, the Big Bear Lake region typically receives significant winter snow due to its high altitude. The snowfall, measured at the lake level, averages 72 inches (180 cm) per season; more than 100 in (250 cm) can accumulate in forested mountains that confine lakes, at altitudes above 8,000 feet (2,400 m). In February 1990, 59.5 in (151 cm) of snow was recorded. The highest snow in 24 hours was 27.0 inches (69 cm) on March 27, 1991. The largest snow depth was 58 inches (150 cm) on February 3, 1979. Snow falls every month except July and August. Usually there are 18 days each year with snow that can be measured.1 in (0.25 cm) or more.
History Edit
The area now known as Big Bear Lake is inhabited by indigenous Serrano Indian tribes of about 2,500 years. They refer to the region as "Yuhaviat" which translates to "Pine Place". They inhabit small villages of 10 to 30 round buildings located along fresh water sources and live on berries, nuts, tubers, grains, and plentiful games harvested along the fertile valley. Serrano sees the original grizzly bear as an ancestor and does not eat meat or wear this large animal fur. Some of the contemporary communities in this area display the names of places that reflect the rich Native history of the Big Bear area. These include Yucaipa, Cucamonga, and Muscupiabe.
The Big Bear Lake area was first discovered by European explorers when an Indian hunt party was formed by Benjamin Wilson. Wilson moved to California during the territorial Mexican days of Alta California. She married a Spanish landlord's family, Yorbas, and bought some Rancho Jurupa (Riverside) from Juan Bandini. He became a reputable local rancher statesman.
Wilson has been signed as an Inland Peace District Magistrate and commissioned by a territorial authority to seek and pursue native Americans who allegedly robbed a ranch in adjacent Riverside. This group, led by the ferocious Walkara Principal, propelled the herd into the Lucerne Valley on the north side of San Bernardinos. Wilson assembled a group of 44 men, 22 of whom he sent through the Cajon Pass while he fabricated a pincer movement with 22 other men upriver to the Santa Ana River, effectively cutting Utes at the other end of Lucerne.
On the way, Wilson arrives at a vast basin with wildlife, especially bears. His troops soon became a hunting party where people were divided into 11 pairs, each pair bringing back the bear in hiding. Wilson dubbed the grassy "Bear Valley" and one of the shallowest "Big Bear Lake" seasonal swamps nearby. The same ephemeral feature today is called Baldwin Lake after Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin from Rancho Santa Anita, who purchased the nearest Gold Mountain Mine named for him in 1876. On the return journey Wilson (the posse has lost interest in tracking down people Indians who are renegade), the group took 11 more bear feathers.
In 1859, the newly discovered valley became a place for gold miners. Mr. William F. Holcomb, a prospector from Indiana, moved to Los Angeles from the Northern California mine where he heard about the prospect in Big Bear. He moved to the Starvation Flats, where he was a little lucky in the first winter. Because of his shooting skills, he was hired by several other miners to hunt bears for meat. With his Indian counterpart, Holcomb tracked down, shot and wounded a grizzly bear on the Bear Valley ridge. There he saw quartz veins mixed with gold. When this discovery was revealed, Southern California gold rush was under way, and Holcomb Valley quickly became the largest populated area in San Bernardino County.
In 1884 swampy, almost flat valley bears with a single arch granite, which holds about 25,000 acres of water for irrigation purposes in the Redlands area. Redlands orange growers found that the 1884 dam produced insufficient water. The Bear Valley Mutual Water Company hired John S. Eastwood to design a new dam. In 1912, a 72-foot double dam (22 m) was built about 300 feet (91 m) downstream of the old dam and increased lake capacity to 73,000 feet (90,000 dam 3 ). The original granite dam still exists, usually below about 20 feet of water. A highway bridge (SR 18) was built on the arch of a new dam in 1923. The new bypass bridge was built next to the old bridge in 2009, and the old bridge over the new dam was removed (12). The surface altitude is 6,750 feet (2,060 m), but this level fluctuates according to annual melting and surface runoff. The Big Bear Municipal Water District acquired dams and other assets from Mutual Water Company in 1977.
The unmanaged grizzly bear hunts in San Bernardinos were extremely detrimental to ancient indigenous people, and in 1906 all the locals Ursus californicus were killed.
Tourism begins with the beginning of the car and finally the construction of a highway that enters a seemingly remote area. Hollywood soon found Big Bear, and several films, especially western, have been filmed in the region.
Lake Activities Edit
Big Bear Lake provides an interesting setting for many outdoor activities, including fishing (trout, bluegill, crappie, catfish and largemouth bass), boating fun, and water skiing. Due to the very cold water and the presence of underwater obstacles near the coastline, swimming is not recommended. The lake was patrolled by BBMWD Lake Patrol.
Many of the lakeside residents have private docks, and visiting sailors get moorings at several marinas found on both beaches. The Big Bear Municipal Water District provides a public launch at the east end and the western tip of the North Shore. The local Marina hires a variety of boat sports and fun, and parasailing is available.
The California Office of Environmental Health Hazards (OEHHA) has developed an advisor for Big Bear Lake because of the mercury and PCB found in fish caught from this water body. Counselors provide safe dining suggestions for black bass species, Mas Fish, crappie, and Rainbow Trout.
Destination Edit
North Beach (west to east)
- Fawnskin (San Bernardino County is not interested.)
- Big Bear Solar Observatory (New Jersey Institute of Technology)
- Big Bear Discovery Center
South Coast (west to east)
- Snow Summit (skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking in summer, ski lift open in summer for sightseeing)
- Bear Mountain (ski and snowboarding in winter, summer golf)
See also Edit
- Big Bear City, California, an unrelated town east of Big Bear Lake
- Big Bear Lake, California, for the incorporated city
- List of people from Big Bear Lake, California
- List of dams and reservoirs in California
- List of lakes in California
References Edit
External links Edit
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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