Lake of the Ozarks

Lake of the Ozarks is a reservoir with over 1,150 miles of shoreline that winds through the forested hills of the northern Ozark region. The water fills valleys and creates countless coves, peninsulas and narrow arms between the ridges.

Bagnell Dam was built between 1929 and 1931, creating what was then the largest artificial lake in the country. The dam supplied the region with electricity and permanently changed the landscape.

Families rent houseboats for weeks at a time and anchor in quiet coves scattered along the winding shoreline. Waterskiing and wakeboarding are part of everyday life for many locals who learned these sports as children.

The water level stays stable year-round, so boats can dock along the entire shoreline. The many coves offer sheltered spots for beginners and quieter areas away from the main waterways.

Beneath the surface lie the foundations of eight villages flooded in the early 1930s. Divers can still make out wall remains and old road traces on the bottom.