Blackstrap Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackstrap Lake |
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 Blackstrap Lake
Location in Saskatchewan
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| Location | Saskatchewan |
| Coordinates | 51°47′20″N 106°25′11″W / 51.78889°N 106.41972°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Earthen aqueduct from Lake Diefenbaker |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 14.4 km (8.9 mi) |
| Max. width | 0.8–1.2 km (0.50–0.75 mi) |
| Surface area | 1,200 hectares (3,000 acres) |
| Average depth | 5.15 m (16.9 ft) |
| Max. depth | 9.39 m (30.8 ft) |
| Water volume | 61.5×106 m3 (49,900 acre⋅ft) |
Blackstrap Lake is a special man-made lake in central Saskatchewan, Canada. It's located south of the city of Saskatoon, in an area called Dundurn No. 314. This lake was created in 1967 to store water, making it a reservoir. It's an important part of the water system that supplies water to areas southeast of Saskatoon.
Blackstrap Lake covers an area of about 1,200 hectares (that's like 3,000 football fields!). It's about 14.4 kilometers long and 0.8 to 1.2 kilometers wide. The lake is used for a few important things: it helps water farms (called irrigation), and it provides water for industries and towns.
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How Blackstrap Lake Was Made
The area where Blackstrap Lake is now used to be a valley. This valley was carved out by a huge melting glacier a very long time ago. Before the lake was built, there were two smaller, marshy lakes here called Theresa Lake and Blackstrap Lake.
Early History of the Valley
Long ago, First Nations people used this valley for hunting and finding shelter. Later, European settlers farmed the flat lands in the valley, especially during dry times. Some of these flat farming lands are now under the lake!
Building the Lake
A very dry period in the 1930s, known as the Dirty Thirties, showed how important it was to have enough water. This led to the building of the Gardiner Dam across the South Saskatchewan River. After that, a system of canals and reservoirs was built to bring water to areas southeast of Saskatoon. Blackstrap Lake became the largest of these reservoirs.
The north and south Blackstrap dams were built in 1967. These dams are managed by the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency. The lake stores water for nearby villages like Thode and Shields. It also supplies water to big potash mines, like the PCS mine near Allan and the Mosaic mine near Colonsay. A channel also connects Blackstrap Lake to a nearby lake called Indi Lake.
Blackstrap Provincial Park
Blackstrap Lake is a big part of Blackstrap Provincial Park. Soon after the lake was finished, a recreation area was set up for people to enjoy. A ski hill was even built there for the 1971 Canada Winter Games, a big sports event. The provincial park was officially created in 1986, offering a great place for outdoor activities.
Images for kids
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View of Blackstrap Lake from the top of Mount Blackstrap, looking north. Thode is visible on the west side of the lake.
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Blackstrap South Dam
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The Aqueduct that feeds Blackstrap Lake
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Blackstrap Lake inflow from the aqueduct, near South Dam
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Pelicans at the southern end of Blackstrap Lake, across from the Blackstrap South Dam
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Blackstrap Lake
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Blackstrap Lake
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Blackstrap Lake
