Shasta Lake

Shasta Lake is a reservoir in Shasta County in northern California, located about 35 miles north of Redding and fed by the Sacramento River, Pit River, and McCloud River. The four main arms of the lake branch between forested hills, while the shoreline forms numerous coves and narrow waterways.

Construction of Shasta Dam began in 1935 during the Great Depression and was completed in 1945, flooding the town of Kennett and several Wintu settlements. The project was intended to store water and generate electricity while protecting the Central Valley from floods.

The name comes from Mount Shasta, the snow-covered volcano to the north whose meltwater feeds the reservoir. Boaters and anglers use the many branching coves, while houseboats drift slowly along the forested shores and families stay on the water for several days.

Marinas are spread along the shores and offer boat rentals, fuel stations, and slips, while campgrounds and picnic areas provide access to different coves. Water levels fluctuate by season, with the highest in summer and the lowest in late winter.

The submerged remains of the town of Kennett rest underwater near present-day Bridge Bay, including foundations and old street alignments that divers sometimes explore at low water levels. The maximum depth of the lake reaches 517 feet (158 meters) and makes it California's largest water storage facility.