Churchill Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Churchill Lake |
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Churchill Lake at Buffalo Narrows
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 Churchill Lake
Location in Saskatchewan
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NASA map showing Churchill Lake
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| Location | Saskatchewan |
| Coordinates | 55°55′N 108°20′W / 55.917°N 108.333°W |
| Type | glacial lake |
| Primary inflows | Peter Pond Lake, Frobisher Lake, MClusky River |
| Primary outflows | Churchill River to Lac Île-à-la-Crosse |
| Catchment area | 7,874 km2 (3,040 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 559 km2 (216 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 9 m (30 ft) |
| Max. depth | 24 m (79 ft) |
| Water volume | 4.88 km3 (1.17 cu mi) |
| Shore length1 | 212 km (132 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 421 m (1,381 ft) |
| Settlements | Buffalo Narrows |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Churchill Lake is a large glacial lake located in northwest Saskatchewan, Canada. A glacial lake is a lake formed by the melting of glaciers. It is a very important part of the Churchill River system.
Water flows into Churchill Lake from other lakes. Frobisher Lake sends water from the north. Peter Pond Lake flows in from the east through a narrow passage called the Kisis Channel. Highway 155 crosses this channel at the small village of Buffalo Narrows.
Churchill Lake is considered the starting point of the Churchill River. This river is very long, stretching about 1,609 kilometers (1,000 miles) all the way to Hudson Bay. The lake often freezes over in November and stays frozen until May.
History of the Lake's Name
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Long ago, explorers and fur traders traveled through this area. A famous explorer named John Franklin created a map in 1819-1820. This map showed important routes for the North American fur trade.
On Franklin's map, Churchill Lake was called "Clear Lake." At that time, people didn't know much about its northern parts. Other nearby lakes like Wasekamio Lake, Turnor Lake, and Frobisher Lake were also not fully explored.
Over time, the names of these lakes changed. "Clear Lake" was officially renamed Churchill Lake in 1944. "Buffalo Lake," which is now Peter Pond Lake, was renamed in 1932.
Fish That Live Here
Churchill Lake is home to many different kinds of fish. Some of the fish you can find here include:
