Bennett Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bennett Lake |
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Bennett Lake and a part of the Carcross Desert after sunrise
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 Bennett Lake
Location in Yukon
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| Location | British Columbia, Yukon |
| Coordinates | 60°05′30″N 134°51′56″W / 60.09167°N 134.86556°W |
| Part of | Bering Sea drainage basin |
| Primary inflows | Watson River, Wheaton River, Partridge River, Homan River |
| Primary outflows | Nares River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
Bennett Lake is a beautiful lake located in both British Columbia and the Yukon Territory in northwestern Canada. It's not far from the United States border with Alaska, near the town of Skagway. This lake played a big role during the exciting time of the Klondike Gold Rush.
The narrow-gauge White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad connects the community of Bennett at the south end of the lake. It also links to Skagway further south and Whitehorse, Yukon to the north. This train runs between Skagway and Fraser, British Columbia during the summer months.
The old town of Bennett, British Columbia, often called Lake Bennett, and the town of Carcross, Yukon are both found on the shores of Bennett Lake.
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History of Bennett Lake
During the Klondike Gold Rush, Bennett Lake was a very busy place. Gold-seekers had to cross the Coast Mountains from places like Skagway or Dyea. They carried their supplies over tough trails like the Chilkoot Trail or the White Pass.
Once they reached Bennett Lake, they bought or built rafts and boats. These boats were needed to float down the Yukon River to the gold fields at Dawson City, Yukon. A huge tent city grew up on the lake's shores. Thousands of people lived there, and it offered many services, just like a big city.
In May 1898, the North-West Mounted Police counted many boats being built. There were 778 boats at Lindeman Lake, which is just above Bennett Lake. Another 850 boats were being built in Bennett and nearby areas. Plus, 198 more boats were at Caribou Crossing (now Carcross) and Tagish Lake. It's thought that another 1,200 boats were built in these areas soon after.
How Bennett Lake Got Its Name
Bennett Lake was named in 1883 by Frederick Schwatka. He was an officer and explorer in the US Army. He named the lake after James Gordon Bennett Jr..
James Gordon Bennett Jr. was the editor of the New York Herald newspaper. He helped pay for Schwatka's trip to find the remains of the Franklin's lost expedition. This expedition was a search for a lost group of explorers between 1878 and 1881.
Water Flow in Bennett Lake
The main way water leaves Bennett Lake is through the Nares River. This river flows into Nares Lake. From Nares Lake, the water then goes into Tagish Lake.
After Tagish Lake, the water travels through the Tagish River to Marsh Lake. Marsh Lake is where the mighty Yukon River begins. The Yukon River then flows all the way to the Bering Sea.
Rivers Flowing Into Bennett Lake
Several rivers and creeks flow into Bennett Lake. These include:
- Watson River
- Wheaton River
- Partridge River
- Homan River
- Lindeman Creek
Historical Image Gallery
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White Pass & Yukon Route train passing through Bennett on February 13, 1900
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Photograph of boat building on the lake during the Klondike Gold Rush by Eric A. Hegg
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Photograph of tent city of Bennett along One Mile River and Lake Bennett by Eric A. Hegg ca. 1898
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