Information About

Kushtaka Lake

Quick Facts

Open in The Map Kushtaka Lake on The Map

Location

60 ° 22' 50.83" N,
144 ° 6' 55.163" W

Region

Valdez-Cordova (CA)

Nearest City

Chitina

Length

3.5 mi (5.63 km)

Elevation

82 ft (24.99 m)

Kushtaka Lake in Detail.

About

at terminus of Kushtaka Glacier, 18 mi. NE of Katalla, Chugach Mts.

History

Indian name reported in 1903 as "Kushtahkah," meaning "demon" or "ghost," by G. C. Martin, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). "The natives believe that this lake is inhabited by evil spirits who often make the water boil in the winter or break up the ice. The cause of these phenomena is the escape of coal gas from the bottom of the lake through the water. In winter it accumulates under the ice, with increasin g tension till the ice gives way and is sometimes shot into the air."