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Showboat Branson Belle facts for kids

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Branson Belle Table Rock Lake 2012 cropped.jpg
Showboat Branson Belle on Table Rock Lake in 2012
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History
Owner Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation
Launched August 12, 1994 (30 years ago) (1994-08-12)
Christened April 13, 1995 (29 years ago) (1995-04-13)
General characteristics
Type Riverboat/showboat
Tonnage 1250 tons
Length 278 ft (85 m)
Beam 78 ft (24 m)
Height 112 ft (34 m) (to top of stacks)
Draught 7 ft (2.1 m)
Installed power 2 Detroit Diesel 16V92 (original) 3 Caterpillar C32 (repower)
Propulsion 2 twin electric driven rear paddle wheels, 16 ft (4.9 m) wide, 24 ft (7.3 m) in diameter
Speed 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Capacity 700 passengers

Showboat Branson Belle is a riverboat—more specifically, a showboat—on Table Rock Lake near Branson, Missouri. The lake is landlocked by the Table Rock Dam on one side and the Beaver Lake Dam on the other side. Being a showboat, it hosts lunch and dinner shows throughout the year.

Construction and launch

The boat was constructed at its port at White River Landing and was launched on August 12, 1994. The boat was launched into Table Rock Lake at a speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) on launching rails lubricated with two tons of bananas. The bananas were used for lubrication because they were biodegradable and would not have polluted Table Rock Lake as would have grease. The boat is claimed by its owner to be the largest ship on a landlocked lake in the United States.

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