Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-05-12
NATURES BEAUTY SPOT.
Devils Lakes Many Attractions in
the Way Of Picturesque Ob.
jccts Of Interest,

In the heart Of North Dakota Is Q
picturesque inland sea, n miniature
ocean Of salt water. Devils Lake, OF
"Minnewaukan," as it is called by the
Indians, is a beautiful body Of water
extending in a northwesterly and
southeasterly direction for about thir-
ty miles. Its outline, however, is very
irregular, and a line through its center
between the extremes covers a dis
lance of nearly sixty miles. The shore
Is broken by numerous i~ndentations
and projections, forming arms and
bays from a few rods to a. dozen miles
In length, giving n beach line Of nearly
800 miles around the lake. Devils Lake
at Its widest point is about ten miles In
width. Thus we have picturesque
bays, narrow straits, wide, gravelly
beaches, foaming surf and a broad ex-
panse of water whose waves at times
have all the grandeur Of the old ocean.
At other times the surface of the lake
is like a mirror, without a ripple on its
surface. At some points the shores
are steep and rocky; again, they receds
In bluffs rising gradually to a height Of
several hundred feet, while at other
points we find low-lying meadows ex-
tending for miles from the borders o1
the lake.
Devils Lake Is elevated 1900 feet
above tho level Of the sea- Its water
varies in depth from a few feet to over
100 and its surface covers an area al
about 100 square miles. There are No
islands in 1t, although some of it's nu-
merous peninsulas are known as isl
andR, and undoubtedly were such ut an
earlier period. The lake has receded
several feet since it was first discov-
cred BY white people. With varying
climatic influences it may again reach
. higher stage. That the lake formerly
covered a larger area is evident from
b TACT that the low-lying lands In the
vicinity have all the appearances Of q
former lake bed Devils Lake was onco
connected with Stump Lake, some dis.
lance to the east of its eastern extrem-
ity.
Devils Lake has no visible outlet, but
Its surplus water probably finds ihp
way through subterranean passages in
the geological strata to the basins Of
the Cheyenne, James and Red River
Valleys, possibly to again reach the
through artesian wells.
The water Of the lake is clear as cryp.
tai, and is strongly i%mpregnated with
sulphite and carbonate Of soda, lime.
magnesium, iron and soda, very much
resembling the water of the ocean.
For bathing, its equal cannot be foun0
In any other interior body Of water in
the country.
For beauty Of scenery Devils Lake
surpasses many Of the famed lakes Of
the East, and few, indeed, are the bod
les OF water in this or any other coun-
try which offer so many attractions in
the way Of picturesque objects Of inter.
The clear North Dakota skies. he
surpassingly-beautiful sunset effects.
the ever-changing beauty Of verdure
along it's shores, the salt sea water. the
Of access, the abundance
o wild game and other features make
Devils Lake n Of natures beauty
spots, which will in time come to b.
appreciated by hundreds of Thousands
OF pleasure and ~rest-seekers.
Have a thought Of the flies and in
sects which will torment the horses the
coming summer, and see if you are NOT
ingenious enough to make screen doors
for your stable while the DAYS of leia.
ure are at your command now.