Lac la Nonne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lac la Nonne |
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 Lac la Nonne
Location in Alberta
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| Location | County of Barrhead No. 11 / Lac Ste. Anne County, Alberta |
| Coordinates | 53°56′14″N 114°19′11″W / 53.93722°N 114.31972°W |
| Type | Hyper-Eutrophic |
| Primary inflows | Majeu Creek |
| Primary outflows | MacDonald Creek, Pembina River |
| Catchment area | 130 km2 (50 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 7 km (4.3 mi) |
| Max. width | 2.5 km (1.6 mi) |
| Surface area | 12.28 km2 (4.74 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 7.8 m (26 ft) |
| Max. depth | 20 m (66 ft) |
| Residence time | 6.5 years |
| Surface elevation | 664 m (2,178 ft) |
| Settlements | Birch Cove |
Lac la Nonne is a large lake found in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located between Lac Ste. Anne County and the County of Barrhead No. 11. The lake is about 85 km (53 mi) north-west of Edmonton, near the Grizzly Trail.
This lake is part of the Athabasca River basin. It gets its water from Majeau Creek. The water levels are controlled by a dam on MacDonald Creek, which flows out of the lake and into the Pembina River. Lac la Nonne is known as a hyper-eutrophic lake, meaning it has a lot of nutrients.
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Discovering Lac la Nonne's Past
Lac la Nonne is a popular lake for fun and recreation. It is about 12 km2 (4.6 sq mi) in size and can be as deep as 20 m (66 ft). The town of Barrhead is about 20 km (12 mi) north of the lake.
What Does the Name Mean?
The lake's original name was mi-ka-sioo, which means "eagle" in the Cree language. The current name, Lac la Nonne, comes from French. It is believed to mean "the nun." Some people think this name came from the white-winged scoter, a type of duck that reminded early explorers of ducks called "the nun" in England.
Early Trading and Settlement
The Hudson's Bay Company set up a trading post at Lac la Nonne in the early 1800s. This post helped move goods between Edmonton House and Fort Assiniboine. By the 1830s, many Métis people lived by the lake.
In the 1870s, Catholic missionaries arrived and started a mission. However, when the fur trade slowed down, many Métis moved away. The trading post and mission eventually closed.
Growing Communities by the Lake
By the 1890s, several families had settled around the lake. By 1912, most of the land was claimed by settlers. People raised horses and cattle, and sawmills operated nearby.
The first summer cottages were built on the eastern shore in the early 1900s. Killdeer Beach Resort, on the southwest shore, became a popular spot for recreation. It started around 1928 and even held "amphibious" horse races! Today, Killdeer Beach Resort and Elksbeach Campground are two places where people can stay and enjoy the lake.
Lac la Nonne on the Historic Trails
Lac la Nonne was an important stop on several historic trails.
The York Factory Express Route
The lake was part of the York Factory Express route. This was a main overland connection for the Hudson's Bay Company. It linked their headquarters at York Factory to their main station, Fort Vancouver. Journals from 1827-1828 mention Lac la Nonne as "Nun lake."
Early Land Grants in Alberta
Lac la Nonne was one of the first places in Alberta where special land grants were surveyed. This happened in 1873, only three years after the Hudson's Bay Company took over responsibility for Ruperts Land. This showed that the area was ready for settlement.
Connection to the Klondike Trail
Lac la Nonne was also a key stopping point on the Klondike Trail. This was an overland route from Edmonton to Dawson City in the Yukon, used by gold seekers during the Klondike Gold Rush in the late 1890s.
The trail was about 1,446 miles long. It helped move furs and goods. Main stops included Sion, Lac la Nonne, and Belvedere. The gold rush, along with new land laws, helped the areas along the Klondike Trail grow quickly.
Camp Encounter: A Place with History
Camp Encounter, owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton, has a long history connected to Lac la Nonne.
Early Days and Mission
Before the 1800s, the area was a wilderness used by the Cree and Stoney Native peoples for hunting and fishing. Lac la Nonne became an important link for the fur trade between the Athabasca River and Fort Edmonton. The Hudson's Bay Company had a trading post nearby.
Early Christian missionaries, like Father Albert Lacombe, visited the area. In 1870, Father Favard became the resident priest and built a log cabin where the church, Our Lady of Lourdes, now stands. In 1878, Cree chief Katchikawesham was baptized and became Alexander Arcand. He had signed Treaty 6 in 1876, which led to a new reserve near Sandy Lake.
The Gold Rush and Beyond
During the 1890s, the mission saw many prospectors heading to the Klondike Gold Rush. A signpost on the trail near the site warned travelers about the harsh journey north. A part of this historic Klondike Trail still crosses the Camp Encounter site today.
Enjoying Lac la Nonne Today
Lac la Nonne is a popular spot for outdoor activities. While there are no commercial fisheries, sport fishing is very popular. People mainly catch walleye and northern pike in the summer.
Over the years, more and more cottages were built around the lake. By the 1970s, most of the shoreline was privately owned. Many cottages have been updated for winter use, and the lake has become even more popular. To protect the lake's quality, new building around the lake has been limited by environmental rules.
Sammy Majeau was the first Métis President at the Lac la Nonne Local.
