Monster North Dakota Lake Nearly Quadruples in Size

23 Sep 10 - Devils Lake, N.D. – "It's been called a slow-growing monster: a huge lake that has steadily expanded over the last 20 years, swallowing up thousands of acres, hundreds of buildings and at least two towns in its rising waters," says this article by Dave Kolpack.

According to Kolpack, Devil's Lake is one of only two significant "closed-basin" lakes in the United States. The other is the Great Salt Lake.

The growth of Devil's Lake indicates that precipitation in N. Dakota is increasing, or average temperatures are falling (less evaporation), or both.

"Those worries are compounded by another problem," says Kolpack. "Scientists believe the pattern of heavy rain and snow that filled the basin is likely to continue for at least another decade."

See entire article (contains cool interactive photo comparing today's
lake size with that of 20 years ago)

[link to news.yahoo.com]