Possum Kingdom (Palo Pinto)
Possum Kingdom (Palo Pinto)
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Possum Kingdom Lake in Palo Pinto County, TX
This lake has 8 Layers or 15 Layers for HD Version
Possum Kingdom Lake is a 17,000-acre reservoir on the Brazos River in north-central Texas, approximately 90 miles northwest of Fort Worth in the rugged canyon country of the Palo Pinto Mountains. Created by the Morris Sheppard Dam, which was authorized by Congress in 1935 and constructed by the Works Progress Administration between 1936 and 1941 during the Great Depression, this was the first water supply reservoir built in the Brazos River basin. The unique buttressed Ambursen-type concrete dam stands 190 feet high and 2,700 feet long, featuring distinctive arched wings on either side of nine spillway gates rather than traditional filled concrete construction. The lake stretches 65 miles from its northern reaches to the dam at the south end, following the winding course of the Brazos River through dramatic limestone canyons that were carved through the Palo Pinto Mountains, creating the unusually deep and exceptionally clear blue waters that distinguish Possum Kingdom from other Texas lakes. With 310 miles of serpentine shoreline featuring towering cliffs, sandy beaches, quiet coves, and scenic vistas, the reservoir reaches depths of 145 feet near the dam with an average depth of 37 feet. The lake's distinctive name originated from Ike Sablosky, a Russian Jewish immigrant who arrived in Mineral Wells in 1905 seeking health treatments and subsequently entered the fur and hide business, greeting his best suppliers of possum pelts from the Brazos River canyon as "the boys from the Possum Kingdom," and the name endured to become legendary.
Possum Kingdom Lake has earned recognition as one of the most scenic man-made lakes in Texas and serves as a premier recreational destination offering world-class fishing, boating, water sports, scuba diving, camping, and outdoor adventure. The reservoir supports excellent sport fishing for Largemouth Bass, Striped Bass, White Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Blue Catfish, and sunfish, with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department regularly stocking Florida-strain Largemouth Bass and Striped Bass to maintain trophy fishing opportunities. The lake's most iconic landmark is Hell's Gate, a spectacular 85-foot sheer limestone formation that creates a natural gateway into a massive cove on the south end of the lake, serving as Texas's premier party cove where hundreds of boats gather during summer weekends and hosting one of the state's largest Fourth of July fireworks displays. Hell's Gate also features Devil's Island and has hosted Red Bull cliff diving competitions, attracting thrill-seekers and spectators from across the state. Possum Kingdom State Park encompasses 1,530 acres on the western shores, offering over 100 developed campsites, six air-conditioned cabins with lake views, three miles of wooded hiking and biking trails through the Palo Pinto Mountains, public boat ramps, a fishing pier, swimming areas, and a well-stocked park store with boat rentals and supplies. The Brazos River Authority operates several additional parks and public-use areas on the eastern peninsula with camping facilities, picnic areas, and water access, including the popular Sandy Beach and North D&D parks. Nearby attractions include The Cliffs Resort perched 200 feet above the lake with an 18-hole championship golf course, spa facilities, and upscale dining, multiple full-service marinas offering boat rentals and watercraft services, the historic 433-foot Possum Kingdom Stone Arch Bridge built in 1942 as the longest masonry arch bridge in Texas, and the charming communities of Mineral Wells, Graham, and Breckenridge offering museums, dining, and small-town hospitality within easy driving distance of the lake.
Dimensions:
Small: 8"x12"
Medium: 12"x18"
Large: 16"x24"
Extra Large: 20"x30"
XX Large: 24"x36"
Gigantic 30"x45"
HD Extra Large: 20"x30" - 15 Layers
HD XX Large: 24"x36" - 15 Layers
HD Gigantic 30"x45" - 15 Layers
The difference between standard and HD maps is the number of layers. Standard maps have 1 land layer and 7 water layers. The HD lake maps have 1 land layer and 14 water layers. So twice the detail. The HD Maps are limited to Extra Large, XX Large, and Gigantic sizes only. On the smaller sizes the depth change of the wood is too extreme and you end up losing detail.
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