Carter Lake is weird. Part Iowa, part Nebraska, this lake formed when the Missouri river changed course in 1877. One of its earliest names was Lake Nakoma, but was later changed to praise local lead industrialist and bigwig polluter Levi Carter. It serves him justice, I suppose, that the lake is a dirty, smelly mess these days, surrounded by an armpit-of-a-town on the Iowa side and a dilapidated park on the Nebraska side. Which is a shame. Back in the Nakoma days, the lake was a popular beach resort. Omaha needs some public beaches, and Carter Lake still has the potential to be a prime spot. Until something is done with this place, enjoy the hobo litter and foul stench.