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Lake Minnetonka Facts

Where is Minnetonka located?  In western Hennepin County, MN, about 12 miles west of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

What are some cities and towns near the lake?  The major towns are Wayzata, Mound, Spring Park, Excelsior, Orono plus eight others.

Where does the word "Minnetonka" come from?  The word comes from the Sioux leader Me-ne-a-ton-ka; the region is where the Sioux worshipped the Great Spirit Manitou.

What is the surface area? 14,004 acres (21.9 square miles)

How much water does it hold? 400,000 acre feet (130,340,560,000 gallons)

How much shoreline? Approximately 117 miles, very irregular

How many channels? 31 navigable channels

What is the maximum depth?  113 feet

What is the average depth? 25.1 feet

What is the normal lake level?  The "normal" lake level is 929.4 feet above sea level. The highest lake level recorded was 930.52 feet above sea level on September 7, 2002. The lowest was 921.78 feet recorded on December 16, 1937.

How clear is the water? Clarity is 10.9 feet

What is the source of water? Major inflows are 6-mile Creek and Painter's Creek.

Where does it go? Outflow is through Minnehaha Creek

What is the residence time of water entering the lake?  15 years

Information from The Limnological Research Center, Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Minnesota