Columbia Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Columbia Lake |
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 Columbia Lake
Location in British Columbia
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| Location | British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 50°14′N 115°52′W / 50.233°N 115.867°W |
| Type | natural |
| Primary outflows | Columbia River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 13.5 km (8.4 mi) |
| Max. width | 2 km (1.2 mi) |
| Surface area | 25.7 km2 (9.9 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 2.9 m (9 ft 6 in) |
| Max. depth | 5.2 m (17 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 808 m (2,651 ft) |
Columbia Lake is a beautiful freshwater lake in British Columbia, Canada. It is known as the main starting point, or headwaters, of the mighty Columbia River. This important river flows all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
The lake gets its water from several small streams. The village of Canal Flats is located at the south end of the lake.
About Columbia Lake
Columbia Lake is found along Highway 93 and 95. It sits between the towns of Canal Flats and Fairmont Hot Springs.
Water Features
Columbia Lake is special because it is the largest warm water lake in the East Kootenay region. In July, its average temperature is about 18 °C.
The lake is not very deep. Its average depth is only about 2.9 meters (9.5 feet). The deepest part of the lake is about 5.2 meters (17 feet).
The water in Columbia Lake is very clear. This is because fewer boats use this lake compared to its neighbor, Windermere Lake.
Lake Connections
The Kootenay River is another large river in the area. It flows very close to the south end of Columbia Lake.
Sometimes, when there is a lot of rain or melting snow, the Kootenay River can overflow. When this happens, its waters can flow into Columbia Lake.
Long ago, people tried to connect the two bodies of water. They built a special waterway called the Baillie-Grohman Canal. This canal was meant for steamboats to travel between the lake and the river. However, only a few trips were ever made through it.
