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By Linda Reid , Wenatchee , WA

Lake Pend Oreille provides some of the most spectacular views in northern Idaho . It ’ s in Idaho ’ s Panhandle , just an hour ’ s drive from the Canadian border and only 20 minutes from the Montana border .

As my husband , Ken , and I drove along the lakeshore , we could already begin to anticipate the tranquil setting that would relax and renew us during our stay at Pend Oreille Shores Resort .

Photos can never completely capture the panoramic view of the Selkirk Mountains as a backdrop for this expansive lake with an unusual name and shape . Its name is pronounced “ ponder-ay ” ( French for “ ear pendant ”). Some believe its name was conferred by French trappers to describe either

the ear ornaments worn by the local Kalispell tribe of Native Americans , or the interesting shape of the lake itself .

A remote area

Two rivers feed Lake Pend Oreille from the north and one carries its waters into the prairie and valley to the south , feeding an immense aquifer .

The lake is surrounded by National Forest land , with a few small towns . The largest , Sandpoint , has about 8,400 residents and an assortment of local shops , art galleries , and restaurants . It ’ s only 18 miles from Pend Oreille Shores Resort , which is located on the northeast side of the lake .

Lake Pend Oreille is 43 miles long and has a surface area of 148 square miles . In some places it is over 1,000 feet deep — one of the deepest lakes in the U . S .

These facts help me appreciate what I see as I immerse myself in the peaceful , rejuvenating sense of place we enjoy from our terrace view .

All-seasons resort

Pend Oreille Shores Resort was built between 1983 and 1986 and has been beautifully maintained , inside and out , as an all-seasons resort with amenities and a setting to please every age group . It has 54 units in nine buildings , with a mix of one , two , and three bedrooms . The kitchens are equipped with everything you need .

The units have wood-burning fireplaces and exceptional-quality furnishings . As first-time visitors , we saw that it ’ s obviously a wonderful place for families to gather .

Lisa Derr , who has been the resort ’ s