Friends of our family have always raved about the Koocanusa area and the natural wonders there. They have a property near Lake Koocanusa and use it as a refuge to get away from the daily stress of work and responsibility. We’re a little jealous of your getaway and we’d just like to have the same thing.
Although we have been invited to join them numerous times, we simply never take the time to go with them to witness this land of mountains, crystal clear waters and natural beauty. But this time we accept your offer and head to your vacation rental in Koocanusa.
I wanted to do my due diligence on the area that we were about to explore and experience in the next few days. Of course we could have packed our bags to leave, but due to my inquisitive nature, it was important for me to know something about the area.
Main function of Lake Koocanus
For me, having water at the door of my house is pure luxury; especially if you live on the prairie. He wanted to know the hard facts about the natural beauty he was going to dip his toes into.
Koocausa Lake is 90 miles long and is backed by a massive dam called the Libby Dam, which is located just 16 miles upriver from the town of Libby. The main function of the dam is to provide hydroelectric power; which in my eyes is green energy. Thumbs up for green energy!
The dam was a joint project between the United States and Canada in 1972, with the goal of providing flood protection and hydroelectric power. The Kootenai River problem needed to be solved, as each spring the river caused uncontrolled flooding in Montana, Idaho, and British Columbia. Who would have thought that this river could do so much damage?
Where did the name come from?
At first I had trouble remembering how to spell Koocanusa, but then I divided the word into three sections. This is exactly what the founder of the name did. It all started with a naming contest for the Libby Dam. The winner came up with a simple formula and took the first three letters from the KOOtenai River and then took the first three letters from Canada and the US. So there you have it Koo + can + use; Koocusa. This is easy to remember and easy to spell.
I love little facts like this and I just love letting people know what I’ve discovered!
Arriving at Riverside
Our friends have a so-called cabin in a development in Riverside, Koocanusa. I had no idea what to expect, the term cabin sounds small and rustic, the term underdevelopment sounded crowded. I thought, what the hell; it’s a free weekend away from the pressures of life.
We drove from Calgary to the US side of Koocanusa, which took only 3.5 hours. When I saw the natural beauty, the mountains and of course the crystal clear lake, my heart skipped a beat; I was amazed. We arrived at the Riverside development in Koocanusa and each property was secluded and private, within walking distance of the lake. The houses were nothing like she had imagined, they were spacious and charming.
My next thought was, is there much for sale in Koocanusa?