The Secret History of Lake Pend Oreille

July 14

Dear Diary,

Today was the most surprising day of summer camp so far. We are staying at Farragut State Park, right on the edge of Lake Pend Oreille in northern Idaho. When my parents dropped me off, all I saw were towering pine trees, dusty hiking trails, and a lake so massive it looks like a blue ocean trapped between the mountains. I figured this place had always been a quiet wilderness. I was completely wrong.

During our afternoon hike, our camp counselor, Sarah, led us to a large brick building that turned out to be the park’s visitor center and museum. She told us to look around and find one mind-blowing fact. It didn't take long. As soon as I walked inside, I saw old black-and-white photographs of thousands of men in sailor uniforms marching right where our cabins are standing today!

I learned that during World War II, this peaceful forest was actually the Farragut Naval Training Station. It was the second-largest naval training base in the whole world! Over 293,000 sailors trained here between 1942 and 1946. I asked Sarah how they could train Navy sailors in Idaho, since our state is totally landlocked and hundreds of miles away from the Pacific Ocean.

She explained that the secret is Lake Pend Oreille itself. The lake is incredibly deep—more than 1,150 feet in some places! Because it is so deep and quiet, the military could test submarines and sonar equipment without anyone interfering. In fact, the Navy still uses a portion of the lake today for acoustic research.

After the museum, we walked down to the shoreline. I looked out at the deep, dark water with a whole new level of respect. It’s wild to think that eighty years ago, instead of campers singing campfire songs, this place was filled with the sounds of bugles, marching boots, and sailors preparing for war. Tonight, as I look out of my cabin window at the stars reflecting on the water, the lake feels even bigger and more mysterious than before.

I think I'll sleep well tonight. Tomorrow we are going canoeing, and I'll definitely be looking down into the deep blue, wondering what secrets are hiding at the very bottom.

— Maya