Alouette Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alouette Lake |
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Alouette Lake at sunrise
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 Alouette Lake
Location in British Columbia
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| Location | British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 49°20′N 122°25′W / 49.333°N 122.417°W |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | South Alouette River, Gold Creek |
| Primary outflows | South Alouette River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. depth | 522 ft (159 m) |
Alouette Lake is a beautiful lake and reservoir (a lake made bigger by a dam) in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. It sits at the base of the Golden Ears mountains. The lake is about 16 kilometers long.
It was once called Lillooet Lake. Its name was changed in 1914 to avoid confusion with another larger lake and river further north. The name "Alouette" is a French word for "lark," which is a type of bird. This name was chosen because it sounded nice and similar to the original name.
Most of the land around Alouette Lake has never been cut down for wood (logged). The northern side of the lake is protected inside Golden Ears Provincial Park. This park used to be part of Garibaldi Provincial Park before it was divided. A small part of the lake, especially its hard-to-reach northwestern shore, is actually within the District of Mission.
Alouette Dam: Making the Lake Bigger
Originally, Alouette Lake was only about 2 kilometers long. But in 1928, the Alouette Dam was built. This dam made the lake much, much bigger!
The dam is located about 11.5 kilometers up the South Alouette River. There is no power plant right at the dam. Instead, a long tunnel, about 1067 meters (3500 feet) long, connects Alouette Lake to Stave Lake.
Water from Alouette Lake flows through this tunnel. At the end of the tunnel, the water goes into a large pipe called a penstock. This penstock feeds a small power station called the Alouette Powerhouse. This power station makes 8 megawatts of electricity and is run by BC Hydro. It is located on the west shore of Stave Lake.
Fun Things to Do at Alouette Lake
Alouette Lake is a great place for outdoor activities! On the western shore of the lake, you'll find a large public beach. There's also a picnic area where you can enjoy meals outdoors. If you want to stay longer, there's a campground that is part of the provincial park.
