Floras Lake
From Oregon Hikers Field Guide
- Hikes to this destination:
- Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
- Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
- Latitude, Longitude: 42.8961, -124.5059
- Elevation: 10 feet
Description
Floras Lake is 236-acre shallow coastal lake that was once the site of one of those land speculations based on the premise that a new town, Lakeport by the Sea, would become the “Venice of the West” once a canal was built to connect Floras Lake with the ocean. Advertisements explained “why Lakeport is destined to become one of the largest cities of the Pacific Coast.” By 1909, more than 400 hundred people had moved there. When canal construction began, it was belatedly discovered that the lake was somewhat above sea level and would instantly drain into the sea! Nothing remains of Lakeport.
In order to walk out to the ocean beach, you'll cross a footbridge over the New River, which drains Floras Lake. This “new” river predates Lakeport by the Sea, but not by much, and was created by an 1890 deluge that altered the hydrology of the area. It proceeds to run 7 ½ miles north behind the foredunes before draining into the ocean.
More Links
- Floras Lake (Wikipedia)
- Floras Lake (Curry) (Atlas of Oregon Lakes)
- Lakeport (The Oregon Encyclopedia)
- "How Floras Lake almost became ‘the Atlantic City of the Pacific Coast’" (BLM Facebook)
Contributors
- bobcat (creator)