Loyalhanna Lake is a reservoir located in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. It was created by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with the construction of Loyalhanna Dam on Loyalhanna Creek for flood control purposes and opened to the public in 1971.

The lake spans approximately 480 acres at normal summer pool levels, offering various recreational activities such as boating, fishing, hiking trails around its perimeter and picnic areas for visitors to enjoy scenic views. The surrounding landscape features rolling hills typical of Western Pennsylvania's terrain.

As an important habitat for wildlife within Keystone State Park boundaries near Saltsburg PA., it also serves ecological functions including wetlands preservation while providing educational opportunities about local ecosystems through interpretive programs hosted year-round by park staff or volunteers from nearby communities like Latrobe New Alexandria.

Loyalhanna Lake is situated in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Before its current status as a recreational area managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the land underwent various transformations.

The region's history includes use by Native American tribes such as the Delaware and Shawnee for hunting grounds before European settlers arrived. In colonial times and through to the 19th century, it was primarily agricultural land with farms dotting the landscape.

Ownership transitioned over time from individual farmers. The construction of Loyalhanna Dam in 1962 led to significant changes when areas were flooded creating what we now know as a lake environment designed for flood control purposes.

Within this park lies Bush Recreation Area which offers boating access while maintaining historic features like remnants of old structures submerged under water that attract divers exploring these underwater curiositiesechoes from past communities displaced during dam creation process.