North Dakota is a state filled with natural wonders. From the incredible Theodore Roosevelt National Park to other points of amazement like the Sheyenne National Grasslands and more, there’s no shortage of jaw-dropping wonders to go around. So what about man-made wonders in North Dakota? Great news: there’s no shortage of those, either. In fact, did you know that one of the largest man-made lakes in the United States is right here in North Dakota? It’s true! Let’s take a moment to examine the incredible wonder that is Lake Sakakawea – a sparkling, man-made lake with more coastline than the state of California. Yes, seriously.

Lake Sakakawea is so enormous that it can easily be seen from space.
NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center/Flickr
It's 368,000 acres of sparkling blue, crystal-clear water, and it's a favorite among locals and visitors alike.
It's not a natural lake; it was formed as a reservoir on the Missouri River, and is the third-largest lake in the United States.
sf-dvs/Flickr
The lake is 178 miles long, and it features more than 1,500 miles of shoreline. This is already pretty amazing, but I think it becomes doubly so when you compare that to the 840 miles of coastline the whole state of California has.
If that's not one heck of a wonder, well, I don't know what else is.
Lake Sakakawea State Park/Facebook
I know I said in THIS small town in my title, but truth be told, there are numerous small towns that have made their homes alongside this incredibly epic lake.

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Some of these towns include Riverdale, Pick City, and Williston.
ND Parks and Recreation Department/Flickr
...and it's definitely worth mentioning that there are a number of ghost towns submerged in Lake Sakakawea as well.
Predictably, Lake Sakakawea is much-beloved by those who frequent it.
Lake Sakakawea State Park/Facebook
Popular lake activities include fishing, boating (there are numerous wonderful marinas in various places along the seemingly endless lakeshore), and swimming in designated areas.
The water is always pristine, no matter what time of year you visit.
Lake Sakakawea State Park/Facebook
Though, of course, should you come during the winter, you can expect the lake to be frozen over... which still looks pretty incredible. Bring the camera!
Want to spend the night? No worries - there are two seasonal camping cabins available for reservation.
Lake Sakakawea State Park/Facebook
There are also 149 modern campsites with electricity and water, 10 group campsites, and 42 primitive campsites. Take your pick and look forward to sunrise... and sunset... on the water.

To learn more about Lake Sakakawea State Park and all the glory it contains, be sure to visit the official North Dakota Parks and Recreation website. Need a place to stay during all this adventurin’? No worries – check out all the offerings from our friends at Booking.com. Can’t get enough of the natural wonders in this amazing state? Same. Go on this awesome North Dakota natural wonders road trip… you’ll love it.

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Lake Sakakawea, North Dakota, USA