Pelican Lake is a

lake A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...

located about seven miles north of Pelican Rapids, in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. Pelican Lake is now a highly developed lake with its major uses predominantly recreation, but its fishing is also excellent. The lake was recently discovered to be infested with zebra mussels, threatening not only Pelican Lake, but all lakes connected by the Pelican River.

Size and shape

The lake covers an area of , and reaches a maximum depth of in the northern portion of the lake. The lake got its name because of its unique and very intricate resemblance to the shape of a

pelican Pelicans (genus ''Pelecanus'') are a genus of large water birds that make up the family Pelecanidae. They are characterized by a long beak and a large throat pouch used for catching prey and draining water from the scooped-up contents before s ...

Neighboring lakes

The Pelican River runs through the lake and forces water southeastward into

Lake Lizzie Lake Lizzie is a lake located in the townships of Dunn and Lida in Otter Tail County, Minnesota Otter Tail County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, its population was 60,081. Its county seat is Fergus Falls ...

. ''Little Pelican Lake'' is located to the northeast and is navigable by going upstream on the Pelican River. There is a water inflow coming from the Spring Creek that feeds from

Cormorant Lake (Minnesota) Big Cormorant Lake is located in northwestern Minnesota's Becker County, about an hour's drive due east of the Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota metropolitan area. Public access boat ramps are located on the northeast and west sides o ...

Recreation

A popular family resort by the name of Fair Hills Resort is located on the lake.

Barry's Mansion

Barry's Mansion is an estate built by businessman and philanthropist B. John Barry starting in 1998.

Notable People with Second Homes on Pelican Lake

* Doug Burgum, Governor of

North Dakota North Dakota () is a U.S. state in the Upper Midwest, named after the Native Americans in the United States, indigenous Dakota people, Dakota Sioux. North Dakota is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the north a ...

Dave Hakstol David Hakstol (born July 30, 1968) is a Canadian ice hockey coach, currently serving as the head coach of the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). A native of Warburg, Alberta, Hakstol was the head coach for Sioux City Musketeers ...

, former coach for the

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games in Wells ...

*John Barry, former owner of

Sun Country Airlines Sun Country Airlines is an American ultra-low-cost passenger and cargo airline, and the eleventh largest in the US by passengers carried. Based at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport with headquarters on airport property, Sun Coun ...

References

Lakes of Otter Tail County, Minnesota Lakes of Minnesota {{OtterTailCountyMN-geo-stub