Cross Lake, Manitoba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cross Lake
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Location of Cross Lake on Cross Lake
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 Cross Lake, Manitoba
Location in Manitoba
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Manitoba |
| Census division | 22 |
| Elevation | 207 m (679 ft) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−6 (CDT) |
Cross Lake is a community in the northern part of Manitoba, Canada. It is located on the shores of the Nelson River, right where the river flows into a lake also called Cross Lake. An all-weather road, PR 374, connects the communities to PR 373 using the Kichi Sipi Bridge.
Even though it looks like one place, Cross Lake is actually divided into four different areas. These include an unincorporated area and three Indian reserves. These reserves belong to the Cross Lake First Nation, who are part of the Cree people.
Contents
History of Cross Lake
In 1795, a man named James Tate started a fur-trading post for the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) at the southern end of Cross Lake. This post was a place where people could trade animal furs. It was first called "X" Lake and then Apsley House.
The first post was closed in 1796. It was opened again in 1849 but closed just one year later. In 1869, the Hudson's Bay Company reopened a trading post on the lake.
Between 1886 and 1887, the HBC built new buildings on the north side of the lake's narrow part. For a few years, from about 1885 to 1889, this main post also managed a smaller outpost at Cross Portage.
In 1959, the trading post became part of the HBC Northern Stores Department. Later, in 1987, the Hudson's Bay Company sold this department to The North West Company. Today, The North West Company still runs a store in Cross Lake.
Geography of Cross Lake
The communities of Cross Lake are found on the eastern shores of Cross Island and Cross Lake. The lake is part of the Nelson River system and is located north of Lake Winnipeg. It is a long and narrow lake, stretching about 102 kilometers (63 miles) to the east-northeast.
The Nelson River flows into and out of Cross Lake on its west side. Another river, the Minago River, also enters the lake on the west. From the Minago River, there is a portage trail that leads to Moose Lake and the Saskatchewan River. On the east side, you can travel through the Walker River, Walker Lake, and Kapaspwaypanik Lake. From there, the Kapaspwaypanik Portage leads to the Carrot River and Oxford Lake on the Hayes River.
Cross Lake is about 520 kilometers (323 miles) by air north of Winnipeg. It is also about 120 kilometers (75 miles) by air south of Thompson.
Climate in Cross Lake
| Climate data for Cross Lake | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 7.5 (45.5) |
8.2 (46.8) |
15 (59) |
27.5 (81.5) |
33.5 (92.3) |
33.5 (92.3) |
35.5 (95.9) |
34 (93) |
31.5 (88.7) |
21 (70) |
15.6 (60.1) |
6 (43) |
35.5 (95.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −17.4 (0.7) |
−12.1 (10.2) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
5.5 (41.9) |
14 (57) |
20.2 (68.4) |
23.3 (73.9) |
21.7 (71.1) |
13.6 (56.5) |
5.4 (41.7) |
−5.5 (22.1) |
−14.7 (5.5) |
4.2 (39.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −26.5 (−15.7) |
−22.4 (−8.3) |
−16.3 (2.7) |
−6 (21) |
2.7 (36.9) |
9.4 (48.9) |
12.8 (55.0) |
11.6 (52.9) |
5.1 (41.2) |
−1.3 (29.7) |
−12.2 (10.0) |
−23 (−9) |
−5.5 (22.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −44 (−47) |
−42 (−44) |
−40 (−40) |
−29.4 (−20.9) |
−16 (3) |
−2 (28) |
3 (37) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
−6 (21) |
−18.5 (−1.3) |
−37.2 (−35.0) |
−41.5 (−42.7) |
−44 (−47) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 17.3 (0.68) |
16.5 (0.65) |
16.6 (0.65) |
18.4 (0.72) |
42.6 (1.68) |
68.6 (2.70) |
69.7 (2.74) |
67 (2.6) |
53.5 (2.11) |
33.4 (1.31) |
23.2 (0.91) |
25.6 (1.01) |
452.3 (17.81) |
| Source: Environment Canada | |||||||||||||
Population of Cross Lake
In the 2021 Census, the unincorporated part of Cross Lake had a population of 521 people. These people lived in 139 homes. This was an increase from its population of 443 people in 2016.
The nearby Indian reserves of Cross Lake 19, Cross Lake 19A, and Cross Lake 19E are home to the Cross Lake First Nation. In 2011, these reserves had a combined population of 7,622 people.
When you add up all these communities, the total population was 9,033 people in 2017.
Notable People from Cross Lake
- Brady Keeper, a professional hockey player
- Ernest Monias, a musician
