Elkwater Lake (Alberta) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elkwater Lake |
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Elkwater Lake, Alberta
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 Elkwater Lake
Location in Alberta
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| Location | Cypress County, Alberta |
| Coordinates | 49°40′04″N 110°17′42″W / 49.66778°N 110.29500°W |
| Type | mesotrophic |
| Catchment area | 25.7 km2 (9.9 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 2.31 km2 (0.89 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 8.4 m (28 ft) |
| Settlements | Elkwater |
Elkwater Lake is a small, pretty lake found in the northwest part of the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. This park is located in southeastern Alberta, Canada. You can get to the lake by taking Alberta Highway 41, also known as the Buffalo Trail. The small tourist town of Elkwater is right on the lake's southern shore. The name "Elkwater" comes from the Blackfoot name for the lake, Ponokiokwe.
Contents
Discover Elkwater Lake: Size and Features
Elkwater Lake is not huge, but it's a great spot for nature lovers! It covers an area of about 2.31 km2 (0.89 sq mi). At its deepest point, the lake is about 8.4 m (28 ft) deep. That's roughly the height of a two-story building!
What Kind of Lake is Elkwater Lake?
Elkwater Lake is known as a mesotrophic lake. This means it has a medium amount of nutrients, which helps support a healthy variety of plants and animals. It's not too rich in nutrients, and not too poor.
Fish You Can Find in Elkwater Lake
The lake is a popular place for fishing! It's home to different types of fish, including Yellow Perch and Northern Pike. These fish are part of the lake's natural ecosystem.
How Elkwater Lake Was Formed
Elkwater Lake has an interesting history that goes back thousands of years! It sits in a special kind of valley called a glacial meltwater valley.
The Ice Age and Lake Formation
This valley was carved out by melting ice from a huge ice sheet. This ice sheet, called the Laurentide Ice Sheet, covered much of North America a very long time ago. As the ice melted at the end of the Pleistocene Epoch (which was the last Ice Age), it created the valley where Elkwater Lake now rests. So, the lake is a cool reminder of Earth's icy past!
