The Buckeye State is full of buried treasures and hidden gems, and while our neighbor to the north might be known as the Great Lakes State, Ohio has some pretty gorgeous lakes, too. One of our favorites is as beautiful as it is bewitching; an alluring, shockingly blue lake with seemingly infinite depths. This so-called “bottomless lake” in Ohio is a mysterious marvel you simply must see for yourself.
Barberton is a city in Summit County, Ohio, that’s home to a bustling community of around 26,000. It’s not too big, not too small; what Goldilocks would call just right.
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The Northern Ohio town’s centerpiece is the lovely Lake Anna Park, a beautiful 11-acre oasis that surrounds the eponymous lake.
Barberton Parks and Recreation/Facebook
Community festivals, events, and gatherings all happen at this park, with the lake the town’s pride and joy.
City of Barberton/Facebook
So imagine our surprise to learn that this lake has quite the nefarious reputation; an infamous past that’s seeped into present-day lore.
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Two main myths surround Lake Anna, and they’re somewhat related. Lake Anna was named by Ohio Columbus Barber after his only daughter, Anna Laura Barber. As rumor has it, Anna swam in the lake in the 1940s – and drowned in a tragic accident.
Barberton Historical Society/Facebook
The second myth is that this lake in Ohio is bottomless; an expanse whose depths cannot be reached. Whisperings of Lake Anna being bottomless began when town officials first tried to determine the depth of the lake by dropping an anchor tied to a rope into its center. As the anchor descended, the rope was naturally pulled down by gravity.
Barberton Historical Society/Facebook
However, by the time the anchor reached the bottom of Lake Anna, the rope had gotten caught in the undertow of one of the underground streams that feed Lake Anna. As a result, the rope caught in the current of the stream continued to feed into the water, as if the anchor was still sinking. It eventually slipped from the boat into the water, making it appear that this Ohio lake was, in fact, bottomless.
Barberton Historical Society/Facebook
Here’s what we do know, however: Lake Anna is a glacial kettle lake with an estimated age of approximately 15,000 years.
Barberton Historical Society/Facebook
Lake Anna hails from the Pleistocene Epoch of the Wisconsin Ice Age; and, despite the “bottomless lake” lore, this Ohio lake is actually just 35 feet deep at the center.
Barberton Parks and Recreation/Facebook
Today, Lake Anna remains as beautiful as ever, and, in our opinion, its mysterious past makes it all the more beguiling and bewitching.
Barberton Parks and Recreation/Facebook
Have you been to Lake Anna, the captivating “bottomless lake” in Ohio, before? While the Barberton Historical Society has worked hard to lay these rumors to rest, we think it’s a fun part of the town’s folklore that makes Barberton, Ohio, that much more interesting and unique!
DigitalDeivant/Wikipedia
Barberton Parks and Recreation/Facebook
City of Barberton/Facebook
Jennifer C/TripAdvisor
Barberton Historical Society/Facebook
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Address: Lake Anna, Barberton, OH 44203, USA
