Hatzic Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hatzic Lake |
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Hatzic Lake looking north, from east Hatzic Island.
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 Hatzic Lake
Location in British Columbia
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| Location | East of Mission, British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 49°10′30″N 122°14′35″W / 49.17500°N 122.24306°W |
| Lake type | oxbow lake |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 3.7 km (2.3 mi) |
| Average depth | 2 m (6 ft 7 in) |
| Max. depth | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Islands | 1 (Hatzic Island) |
Hatzic Lake is a special kind of lake called an oxbow lake. It is located in British Columbia, Canada, near the town of Mission. This lake is a popular spot for outdoor fun, like swimming and water sports, especially because its waters are often warm. It sits just north of the Fraser River.
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Discover Hatzic Lake
Hatzic Lake is found east of the Mission area. It is also south of the Hatzic Valley. On the west side of the lake, you'll find Neilson Regional Park. In the middle of the lake is a piece of land called Hatzic Island. To the northeast, you can see Dewdney Peak, which is also known as Hatzic Mountain. Many homes are built around the lake, and there are also a few places where people can camp.
What is an Oxbow Lake?
An oxbow lake forms when a river changes its path over many years. Rivers often curve and bend. Over time, a big bend in a river can get cut off from the main flow. When this happens, the cut-off part becomes a separate, U-shaped lake. This is how Hatzic Lake was formed from the Fraser River.
How Hatzic Lake Gets Its Water
Water flows into Hatzic Lake from a few streams in the Hatzic Valley. These include Lagace Creek, Scorey Creek, and Hatzic Slough. These streams bring fresh water into the northern part of the lake. However, these streams do not always flow strongly. This means the amount of water and how fresh it is can change throughout the year, depending on the season.
Size and Depth of the Lake
Hatzic Lake is about 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles) long from north to south. Hatzic Island in the middle is about 2.6 kilometers (1.6 miles) long. The widest parts of the lake are near the northern end of the island, measuring about 775 meters (2,543 feet) across. From its very west to its very east, the lake is about 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) wide.
Most of Hatzic Lake is quite shallow, usually about 2 to 3 meters (6.5 to 10 feet) deep. However, in some areas, especially north and west of Hatzic Island, the lake can be much deeper, reaching up to 15 meters (49 feet). BC Highway 7 and the main Canadian Pacific Railway line cross the southern end of the lake.
Fun Activities at Hatzic Lake
Because Hatzic Lake is mostly shallow, its water gets warm. This makes it a very popular place for swimming and water sports. Many people enjoy water-skiing and other activities on the lake.
Protecting the Lake
Sometimes, the warm water and runoff from nearby farms can cause problems in the lake. For example, there have been issues with an invasive plant called flowering rush. There have also been times when too many tiny plants, called algal blooms, grow in the water. These blooms can make the water unsafe for swimming. When this happens, health authorities like Fraser Health might tell people not to swim in the lake.
To help with these problems, the government has provided money to fix the issues with invasive plants in Hatzic Lake. In 2019, over a quarter million dollars were given to help keep the lake healthy.
