Great Central Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Central Lake |
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Sunset at Great Central Lake
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 Great Central Lake
Location in Vancouver Island
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| Location | Vancouver Island, British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 49°22′05″N 125°11′45″W / 49.36806°N 125.19583°W |
| Type | Natural lake, Reservoir |
| Primary outflows | Stamp River, Somass River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 45 km (28 mi) |
| Max. width | 2.45 km (1.52 mi) |
| Surface area | 5,085 ha (12,570 acres) |
| Average depth | 124 m (407 ft) |
| Max. depth | 250 m (820 ft) |
| Shore length1 | 82.3 km (51.1 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 85 m (279 ft) |
| Islands | One island and numerous islets |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Great Central Lake is a beautiful lake found on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It is located north of Sproat Lake and to the northwest of the city of Port Alberni. This long, narrow lake stretches for about 45 kilometres (28 mi). It covers an area of 50.85 square kilometres (19.63 sq mi). The lake is very deep, averaging 124 metres (407 ft) and reaching a maximum depth of 250 metres (820 ft). This makes it the second deepest lake on Vancouver Island!
The lake is surrounded by low mountains and forests. Its water level is carefully managed by a dam on the east side. About 70 people live in unique float houses right on the lake's shoreline. Great Central Lake is a popular spot for many fun activities. These include fishing, boating, water skiing, wakeboarding, swimming, hiking, camping, and ATV riding.
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Exploring Great Central Lake
Great Central Lake is known as an oligotrophic lake. This means its waters are very clear and clean. You can often see down to about 15.5 metres (51 ft) into the water! The lake is nestled among low mountains. Most of the area around it is covered in second-growth forest.
Even though the shoreline is quite steep, some people have built homes right on the water. These are called float houses. The lake's water level is controlled by a dam on its eastern side. The lake is also the starting point for the Stamp River. This river is famous for steelhead salmon fishing.
Some cool places to check out near the lake include the natural waterslides at Dorothy Creek. You can also find the amazing Della Falls nearby.
A Look Back in Time
The name "Central Lake" first appeared on a map in 1864. This was during the Vancouver Island Exploring Expedition. Later, in 1871, a map of British Columbia called it "Great Central" lake. This name was officially accepted in 1948.
From 1970 to 1974, scientists did an experiment on the lake. They added nutrients to the water each year. This was done to help grow more sockeye salmon in the lake.
Discovering Della Falls
Della Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in Canada. It plunges down an incredible 440 metres (1,440 ft)! There is a hiking trail that leads to the base of Della Falls. This trail is located in Strathcona Provincial Park.
The hike takes about 7 hours to complete. You can only reach the start of the trail by boat or water taxi. Along the trail, you will find several campsites. These are perfect for hikers who want to spend the night.
Nearby Towns and Services
The closest town to Great Central Lake is Port Alberni. It is about 16 kilometers away from the Great Central Lake RV Resort campsite. Port Alberni offers many useful services for visitors.
You can find places to rent kayaks and paddle boards there. There are also grocery stores for supplies. If you enjoy fishing, you can find fishing charters and equipment suppliers in Port Alberni.
