Pacific Tarn is a small lake located in the Colorado Rocky Mountains in the United States. It is notable for its 13,420 foot (4,090 m) elevation,[1] making it the highest lake in the United States whose name is recognized by the United States Board on Geographic Names, surpassing other lakes such as Hawaii's Lake Waiau on Mauna Kea, and California's Tulainyo Lake near Mount Whitney.

Pacific Tarn
Pacific Tarn from Pacific Peak
Pacific Tarn in the Tenmile Range of Colorado
Location of Pacific Tarn in Colorado, USA.
Location of Pacific Tarn in Colorado, USA.
Pacific Tarn
Location of Pacific Tarn in Colorado, USA.
Location of Pacific Tarn in Colorado, USA.
Pacific Tarn
LocationSummit County, Colorado, United States
Coordinates39°25′11″N 106°07′11″W / 39.41972°N 106.11972°W / 39.41972; -106.11972
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length560 ft (170 m)
Max. width464 ft (141 m)
Surface area4.7 acres (1.9 ha)
Max. depth28 ft (8.5 m)
Surface elevation13,420 ft (4,090 m)

The lake sits atop the broad eastern ridge of Pacific Peak in the Tenmile Range.

Efforts to name the lake were spearheaded by Carl Drews, a Boulder, Colorado resident who organized an expedition to the lake in 2002 to measure the size, depth and water chemistry. The lake remained unnamed until January 8, 2004, when the United States Board of Geographic Names officially approved the name Pacific Tarn for the lake.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Pacific Tarn". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
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