Lake Kittamaqundi, reservoir in Columbia, Maryland, United States
Lake Kittamaqundi is a reservoir in Howard County, Maryland, sitting at the center of the planned city of Columbia. The shoreline is lined with walking paths, open grassy areas, and spots where the water is visible from several angles.
The lake was formed in the 1970s when a stream was dammed as part of the construction of Columbia, a new city built from scratch on farmland. The water feature was designed from the start as a central element of that urban plan.
The name Kittamaqundi comes from an Algonquian language and roughly means meeting place by the water. Today the lake lives up to that name, as people gather on its banks to eat lunch, walk, or simply sit near the water.
The path around the lake is flat and easy to follow on foot or by bike, and parking is available close to the shore. The area stays open year-round, though it tends to draw more visitors on warm sunny days.
The lake sits directly next to Columbia's Town Center, so it is possible to walk along the water and be just steps from shops and restaurants at the same time. This closeness between open water and an urban center was intentional from the original design.
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