Amisk Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Amisk (Beaver) Lake |
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Detail of David Thompson's 1814 map of Amisk Lake
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 Amisk (Beaver) Lake
Location in Saskatchewan
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| Location | Saskatchewan |
| Coordinates | 54°34′N 102°14′W / 54.567°N 102.233°W |
| Lake type | glacial |
| Primary inflows | Sturgeon-Weir River (West Weir) |
| Primary outflows | Sturgeon-Weir River (South Weir) |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 430 km2 (170 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 294 m (965 ft) |
| Islands | Missi, Crater and many other islands |
| Settlements | Denare Beach |
Amisk (Beaver) Lake is a large lake in east-central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located southwest of the town of Flin Flon. The name 'Amisk' comes from the Cree language and means beaver.
You can reach Amisk Lake by road using Saskatchewan Highway 167. The biggest town on the lake is Denare Beach, which is on the east side.
A Hub for Fur Trade
Amisk Lake is on the Sturgeon-Weir River. This river was a super important part of the old canoe routes that connected eastern Canada to the rich fur trading areas around Lake Athabasca.
Because of its great location, Amisk Lake became a busy spot for trading posts:
- An independent trading post was set up here in 1775.
- The famous Hudson's Bay Company also built a trading post in 1776.
Explorers and Traders Arrive
In June 1775, an explorer named Alexander Henry the elder left Montreal with 16 canoes full of goods. He met up with other traders like Peter Pond and the Frobisher brothers (Joseph and Thomas) on Lake Winnipeg.
Henry and the Frobishers paddled north up the Sturgeon-Weir River. They hoped to reach Frog Portage, a place where Thomas had traded successfully before. They crossed Amisk Lake on November 1st. The very next morning, the lake froze solid!
Since there was good fishing, they decided to stop at the mouth of the West Weir. They quickly built a fort to stay for the winter. Alexander Henry spent three months visiting local Indigenous people. The next spring, they continued north to Frog Portage and had a very successful trading season. Joseph Frobisher stayed at the Amisk Lake post until it was closed in 1778.
What Fish Live Here?
Amisk Lake is home to many different kinds of fish. If you like fishing, you might find:
- Walleye
- Yellow perch
- Northern pike
- Lake trout
- Lake whitefish
- Cisco
- White sucker
- Longnose sucker
- Burbot
Also, smallmouth bass are put into nearby Konuto Lake to help their population grow.
