remains for flood control. Before the construction of large reservoirs, Conneaut was the largest lake in Pennsylvania other than Lake Erie. The advent of rail travel made it a popular place for recreation. An amusement park, Conneaut Lake Park, was built on its western shore. The lake is notable as a site of early motorboat racing. The deep, cold waters of the lake allow it to stay frozen relatively late into the spring. This made Conneaut Lake a vital source of ice, prior to mechanical refrigeration. During the second half of the 20th century, Conneaut Lake's prominence as a tourist destination declined. Automobile travel allowed people to travel further from the cities for their weekend leisure. Streams were dammed, forming reservoirs larger than Conneaut Lake throughout the area. However, the lake still draws many locals and its lack of power restrictions continues to draw powerboats. According to the 2000 Census, roughly 3,000 people live around Conneaut Lake. See also Harveys Lake (Pennsylvania), the largest natural lake in Pennsylvania by volume List of lakes in Pennsylvania References External links Conneaut Lake Resort Area (Conneaut Lake Business Association) Conneaut Lake Community Development Committee Conneaut Lake Park Conneaut Lake Institute Conneaut Lake Borough Lakes of Pennsylvania Bodies of water of Crawford County, Pennsylvania