Big Lake (Alberta) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big Lake |
|
|---|---|
 Big Lake
Location in Alberta
|
|
| Location | Sturgeon County / Parkland County, near Edmonton, Alberta |
| Coordinates | 53°35′50″N 113°42′57″W / 53.59722°N 113.71583°W |
| Lake type | Eutrophic lake |
| Primary inflows | Sturgeon River Atim Creek |
| Primary outflows | Sturgeon River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 21.4 km2 (8.3 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 0.3 m (1 ft 0 in) |
| Max. depth | 4.1 m (13 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 650 m (2,130 ft) |
| Settlements | Edmonton, St. Albert |
Big Lake is a large lake in the Edmonton metropolitan region of Canada. It is found next to the northwest part of Edmonton and the southwest part of St. Albert. The main river flowing into it is the Sturgeon River.
The lake sits on layers of sand and gravel. These layers are part of the Empress Formation. They were formed by melting glaciers long ago. About 30 m (98 ft) below the lake is an aquifer. An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing rock.
Big Lake is part of the Sturgeon River system. This river is 260 km (160 mi) long. It starts at Hoople Lake and flows east. It eventually joins the North Saskatchewan River. Two other creeks also flow into Big Lake. Atim Creek comes from the west, and Carrot Creek comes from the north.
Big Lake is a very important place for birds. It is home to as many as 235 different types of birds. The western part of the lake is special. It provides a rare nesting spot for Franklin's gulls. The Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park is located right on the shore of the lake.
History of Big Lake
Big Lake got its name from the Cree people. They are an Indigenous group who lived in the area. They called the lake this name because of its large size.
Protecting Big Lake
Alberta Fish and Wildlife is a government group. They believe Big Lake is one of the 20 most important habitat areas in Alberta. A habitat is a natural home for plants and animals.
In May 1999, the Alberta Government took action. They created the Big Lake Natural Area. This area includes 1,119 hectares[convert: unknown unit] of lake and wetlands. Wetlands are areas of land covered by water, like marshes.
On June 5, 2001, Big Lake became an Important Bird Areas site. This means it is recognized internationally as a key place for bird conservation. In 2005, Big Lake became Alberta's newest Provincial Park. It was named Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park.
