Why is there such a designation as South Central Iowa tourism? There really isn’t much there unless you hunt, fish, or camp. There are two well fished lakes in that area one call Three Mile Lake and one called Ten Mile Lake. They were both formed by damming the river of the same name and the rivers got their names from how far they were from the base camp of the Mormons as they were passing through Iowa on their way to Salt Lake City in Utah. Iowans did not appreciate the Mormon religion and in effect chased them out of the state. The citizens wanted to protect their young daughters.