Burnaby Lake Regional Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Burnaby Lake |
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The eastern half of the lake on a cloudy day with the Lougheed Town Centre in the distance
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 Burnaby Lake
Location in Greater Vancouver Regional District
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| Location | Burnaby, British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 49°14′33″N 122°56′46″W / 49.242427°N 122.946067°W |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 3.11 km2 (770 acres) |
Burnaby Lake is a beautiful lake located in Burnaby, British Columbia. It's the main feature of the Burnaby Lake Regional Park. The lake covers about 3.11 square kilometers (768 acres). It is home to many different kinds of wildlife. Over 70 types of birds live here, and about 214 different bird species visit throughout the year. The Metro Vancouver Parks Department has taken care of the park since 1977.
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History of Burnaby Lake
Burnaby Lake is a glacial lake. This means it was formed by huge sheets of ice, called glaciers. It came into being about 12,000 years ago. This was at the end of the last ice age.
The lake was named by Colonel Richard Clement Moody. He named it after his private secretary, Robert Burnaby. In March 1859, Colonel Moody was exploring the area. He was looking for a good spot for a new capital city. He heard from local Indigenous people that a freshwater lake might be nearby.
Robert Burnaby and his team went to explore. They wanted to find the lake and trace its path to Burrard Inlet. They also wanted to learn about the land north of the new town. Even though the weather was very bad with heavy rain, they went on their trip. Robert Burnaby and his group returned safely. In 1860, an official map was made. It showed two new discoveries: Burnaby Lake and the Brunette River.
Later, in the late 1800s, several sawmills were built around the lake.
Geography of Burnaby Lake
The lake is located east of Burnaby City Hall. Highway 1 runs along its south side. The CN tracks are to the north. An old electric railway line used to run along the south side of the lake too.
Several creeks flow into Burnaby Lake. These include Still Creek, Eagle Creek, and Deer Lake. The lake then empties its water from the east. This water flows into the Fraser River through the Brunette River.
Wildlife and Nature at Burnaby Lake
Burnaby Lake is home to over 400 different kinds of living things. This includes plants, birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Many different birds visit the area often. You might see great blue herons, bald eagles, osprey, and even green herons.
The plants around the lake are also very diverse. You can find bladderworts, cattails, bulrushes, and sedges. These plants grow near the water and in the marshes. Further from the lake, you'll see deciduous trees. Even further out, there are conifer trees.
The lake helps keep the water clean. It acts like a natural filter for water flowing in from Still Creek. This helps protect the Brunette River. Because of a lot of mud, peat moss, and water lilies, the lake is not suitable for swimming.
There is a dam called the Cariboo Dam on the Brunette River. This dam helps control how much water flows out of the lake. It prevents flooding in areas downstream, especially when there is heavy rain.
Fun Activities at Burnaby Lake
Burnaby Lake Regional Park offers many fun things to do.
- Walking and Hiking: You can enjoy 19 kilometers (about 12 miles) of walking and hiking trails. These trails go all the way around the lake.
- Horseback Riding: The Burnaby Equestrian Centre is located here. There are 6 kilometers (about 3.7 miles) of trails for horseback riding. These trails are along the south and east sides of the lake.
- Water Sports: Canoeing, rowing, and kayaking are very popular. The Burnaby Canoe and Kayak Club and the Burnaby Lake Rowing Club are at the Burnaby Lake Pavilion. This is at the west end of the lake.
- Birdwatching: With so many bird species, it's a great place for Birdwatching.
Other Cool Spots to Visit
- Burnaby Lake Nature House: Learn more about the park's wildlife.
- Butterfly garden: See beautiful butterflies.
- Piper Spit pier: A great spot to view the lake and birds.
- Burnaby Sports Complex: Nearby facilities for sports.
- Wildlife Rescue Association: A place that helps injured animals.
The park is open from 8 AM to 9 PM during Daylight saving time (from the second Sunday of March to Labour Day). For the rest of the year, it's open from 8 AM until dusk.
Dredging the Lake
Over many years, mud and dirt have been filling up Burnaby Lake. This has made the lake shallower. Because of this, it's not deep enough for some competitive water sports anymore. The natural balance of the lake's ecosystem has also been affected. Parts of the lake were even turning into mudflats and wetlands.
To help the lake, the city started the "Burnaby Lake Rejuvenation Project." In August 2006, they removed a huge amount of sediment. They took out 360,000 cubic meters of material. This project helps keep the lake healthy and usable for everyone.
