Polk County topographic map

The lake was created by the construction of the 2,543-foot (775 m) long Bagnell Dam by the Union Electric Company of St. Louis, Missouri. The principal engineering firm was Stone and Webster. Construction began August 8, 1929, and was completed in April 1931; the lake reached spillway elevation on May 20, 1931.

Average elevation: 869 ft

Average elevation: 659 ft

Average elevation: 899 ft

Average elevation: 315 ft

Average elevation: 1,056 ft

Average elevation: 741 ft

Average elevation: 1,270 ft

When the surveyors for the Missouri Pacific Railroad came through, the local people and the railroad wanted to name the town in Dr. Lea's honor. He had a farm on the highest point and near the path of the tracks, and his murder had taken place near the site of the proposed depot. So they chose the name of…

Average elevation: 945 ft

Average elevation: 961 ft

Average elevation: 344 ft

Average elevation: 843 ft

Average elevation: 791 ft

Average elevation: 968 ft

Average elevation: 751 ft

Average elevation: 961 ft

Average elevation: 781 ft

Average elevation: 889 ft

Average elevation: 886 ft

Average elevation: 1,148 ft

Average elevation: 761 ft

Average elevation: 650 ft

Average elevation: 928 ft

Average elevation: 906 ft

Average elevation: 840 ft

Average elevation: 696 ft

Average elevation: 1,024 ft

Average elevation: 968 ft

Average elevation: 961 ft

Average elevation: 932 ft

Average elevation: 719 ft

Average elevation: 741 ft

Average elevation: 869 ft

Average elevation: 705 ft

Average elevation: 1,017 ft

Average elevation: 1,142 ft

Average elevation: 1,165 ft

Average elevation: 978 ft

Average elevation: 1,030 ft

Average elevation: 794 ft

Average elevation: 653 ft

Average elevation: 617 ft

Average elevation: 541 ft

Average elevation: 856 ft

Average elevation: 1,171 ft

Average elevation: 554 ft

Average elevation: 633 ft

Average elevation: 932 ft

Average elevation: 935 ft

Average elevation: 797 ft

Average elevation: 912 ft

Average elevation: 820 ft

Average elevation: 840 ft

Average elevation: 797 ft

Average elevation: 820 ft

Average elevation: 823 ft

Average elevation: 1,010 ft

Average elevation: 984 ft

Average elevation: 778 ft

Average elevation: 840 ft

Average elevation: 1,043 ft

Average elevation: 1,316 ft

Average elevation: 994 ft

Average elevation: 1,289 ft

Average elevation: 518 ft

Average elevation: 587 ft

Average elevation: 833 ft

Average elevation: 1,148 ft

Average elevation: 614 ft

Average elevation: 1,273 ft

Average elevation: 984 ft

Average elevation: 1,119 ft

Average elevation: 820 ft

Average elevation: 755 ft

Average elevation: 712 ft

Average elevation: 886 ft

Average elevation: 545 ft

Average elevation: 968 ft

Average elevation: 997 ft

Bull Shoals Lake impounds the White River for the last time as water travels toward its mouth on the Mississippi River. Bull Shoals is thus the lake farthest downstream in a chain of four artificial lakes that include (from upstream to downstream) Beaver Lake, Table Rock Lake and Lake Taneycomo. The lake is…

Average elevation: 919 ft

Average elevation: 495 ft

Average elevation: 761 ft

Average elevation: 584 ft

Average elevation: 984 ft

Average elevation: 1,096 ft

Average elevation: 840 ft

Average elevation: 827 ft

Average elevation: 879 ft

Average elevation: 571 ft

Average elevation: 650 ft

Average elevation: 551 ft

Average elevation: 696 ft

Average elevation: 1,430 ft

Average elevation: 781 ft

Average elevation: 955 ft

Average elevation: 896 ft

Average elevation: 627 ft

Average elevation: 1,066 ft

Average elevation: 554 ft

Average elevation: 738 ft

Average elevation: 548 ft