The Likely Reason Why So Many Disappear On Idaho’s Darkest Lake

Idaho is one of the country's deadliest states for those who enjoy water recreation. One lake, in particular, is known as being an Achilles heel for divers who are called upon to assist in recovery efforts due to a combination of factors that often prove fatal.

One of my favorite hobbies is kayaking. I've spent many an afternoon on lakes throughout central and southern Idaho, and it doesn't take much to slip up and find yourself in real trouble. A large number of people go missing on Idaho lakes every year, and many are never located. Lake Pend Oreille is considered the deadliest in the state and is Idaho's largest and deepest.

The waters near Cape Horn and Maiden Rock are particularly troublesome for those out on the water and are thought to have claimed multiple lives.

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Lake Pend Oreille is located in the Idaho panhandle and spans more than 40 miles southeast of Sandpoint. At over 1,100 feet deep, it was once a submarine testing ground for the military, according to visitnorthidaho.com. It's one of the most frustrating and challenging lakes for divers to navigate due to its depth and visibility.

Idaho ranks in the top 10 as far as lakes in the United States that see the most water emergencies annually, according to captainexperiences.com. On average, 10 people die or go missing a year on Gem State lakes. Lake Pend Oreille has a dark history of such incidents, and it's due largely to the strong winds that gust over its waters and that are underestimated by those who boat, kayak, and dive.

There are still several unsolved disappearances that have occurred on the lake in the past 50 years. The waters near Cape Horn and Maiden Rock are particularly troublesome for those out on the water and are thought to have claimed multiple lives.