Cultus Lake, British Columbia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cultus Lake |
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 Cultus Lake
Location in British Columbia
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| Location | Fraser Valley, British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 49°03′12″N 121°59′12″W / 49.0533°N 121.9867°W |
| Primary inflows | Frosst Creek, Ascaphus Creek, Smith Falls Creek, Windfall Creek, Clear Creek, Teapot Creek, Watt Creek |
| Primary outflows | Sweltzer River |
| Catchment area | 65 km2 (25 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 6.3 km2 (2.4 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 32 metres (105 ft) |
| Max. depth | 41.8 metres (137 ft) |
| Water volume | 0.2 cubic kilometres (0.048 cu mi) |
| Residence time | 692 days |
| Shore length1 | 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 47 metres (154 ft) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Cultus Lake is a beautiful lake in British Columbia, Canada. It's also the name of a small community and a fun provincial park! The lake is located in the Fraser Valley, about 11 kilometers (7 miles) south of the Chilliwack River. It's also pretty close to the city of Chilliwack, and about 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of Vancouver. The Sweltzer River actually starts right here at Cultus Lake.
In 1950, this special area became a provincial park, which means it's protected for everyone to enjoy. The park covers a large area of 656 hectares around the lake. Long ago, there was even a sawmill here, but that changed when it became a park in the 1950s.
What's in a Name?
Cultus Lake has an interesting name. For the Sto:lo people, who are the First Nations people of this area, Cultus Lake is a very important place. They used it for special spiritual journeys.
However, the lake was named using a word from Chinook Jargon. This was a trade language used by different groups in the Pacific Northwest. The word "cultus" in Chinook Jargon can mean "bad" or "worthless." But it can also mean "free," "without purpose," or simply "nothing."
Weather at Cultus Lake
Cultus Lake has a mild climate, meaning it doesn't get too hot or too cold.
- Summers are usually warm and pleasant. The average temperature in July and August is around 18°C (64°F). The hottest temperature ever recorded was 43.7°C (110.7°F).
- Winters are cool and wet. The average temperature in January is about 2.4°C (36°F). The coldest temperature ever recorded was -21.7°C (-7.1°F).
- Rainfall is common, especially in the cooler months. The area gets a lot of rain throughout the year, with the most falling in November and December.
Fun Things to Do
Cultus Lake is a popular spot for recreation and has lots of fun activities for visitors!
- Waterpark and Adventure Park: You can visit the Cultus Lake Waterpark for thrilling water slides. Right next door is the Cultus Lake Adventure Park, which opened in 2014. It grew from the Giggle Ridge Adventure Golf course.
- Camping: If you love camping, you're in luck! British Columbia Parks offers several camping sites in the area. There are also a few privately owned campgrounds where you can stay.
Learning at Cultus Lake
Cultus Lake has its own local school called Cultus Lake Community School.
- Students: About 150 students attend the school, from Kindergarten up to Grade 6.
- History: The school first opened in 1947 as a small building with three rooms. Sadly, it was destroyed by a fire in February 1959. But a new building was quickly built and opened in October of the same year.
- Administration: The school is managed by the Chilliwack School District.
