Omak Lake, surrounded by granite formed millions of years ago and carved by glaciers tens of thousands of years ago, seems to be guarded by this granite dragon. Scott Hunter, Photo. I added her eye.
Daily Note
Every day, a photograph, a poem.
I learned something new today. I’ve lived in this area since 1985. I’ve visited this lake often, and always thought it was for tribal members only, and so never stopped. The shoreline is for Colville Tribal members only, but non-tribal people can purchase a permit to use designated areas and to boat on the lake. It can get windy, so if you are being swamped in your boat, of course you could go ashore to wait out the wind, but be respectful to gift of use to explore or fish the waters.
Another thing I learned today from the first link above is that Omak Lake is the largest SALINE lake in Washington State. I did not know that. So what lives in a saline lake? Lahontan cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki henshawi) for one. But there are other creatures in the ecosystem. Read more here: Washington State Lake Protection Association: Food Web of Omak Lake.
I did know the geological history of the lake— from granite and basalt of millions of years ago, carved tens of thousands of years ago by glaciers during the ice age. I also knew that it has no outlet, and is fed by the watershed of the area and its small rivers.
Of course, if you visit, you’ll want to be extra respectful so as not to awaken Ogopogo, the creature that lives in the lake. Frank S Lafontaine, a local native writer, wrote a book about it: The Monster of Omak Lake.
Our day trip by the lake provided this spectacular view. I wrote a poem about the Big Horn Sheep sculpture yesterday, and we thought the granite surrounding the length of the lake looked like a sleeping dragon. Do you see its head, then body and a leg out into the lake? There’s a flat spot on the head where I added the eye. For a good overview of Omak Lake, its amenities, and its regulations, see this article: Wenatchee Outdoors: The Waters of Omak Lake.
So…. A poem…
Poetry
Granite Dragon
Granite, aged eons,
Sheri Edwards
sleeps like a dragon, one eye
open, guards the lake
06.20.23 172.365.23
Poetry/Photography [See-Frame-Focus]
Photo: Scott Hunter; I added the eye.
#clmooc #smallpoems #dragon #haiku
I wonder, if I draw a line... 