Lac la Ronge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lac la Ronge |
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NASA image of Lac la Ronge
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 Lac la Ronge
Location in Saskatchewan
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| Location | Saskatchewan |
| Coordinates | 55°10′N 105°00′W / 55.167°N 105.000°W |
| Type | glacial lake |
| Primary inflows | Montreal River, Bow River, Nemeiben River, Nikepamew River |
| Primary outflows | Rapid River (Churchill River) |
| Catchment area | 10,000 km2 (3,900 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 1,413 km2 (546 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 14.6 m (48 ft) |
| Max. depth | 42.1 m (138 ft) |
| Water volume | 17.6 km3 (14,300,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Shore length1 | 1,015 km (631 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 364 m (1,194 ft) |
| Islands | 1305 |
| Settlements | La Ronge, Air Ronge, Lac La Ronge First Nation |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lac la Ronge is a large lake in Saskatchewan, Canada. It was formed by glaciers long ago. It is the fifth biggest lake in the province. This beautiful lake is a popular spot for vacations and outdoor fun.
Contents
Lac la Ronge: A Big Lake in Saskatchewan
Lac la Ronge is a huge lake in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is a "glacial lake," meaning it was carved out by giant ice sheets (glaciers) thousands of years ago. It is the fifth largest lake in the whole province.
The lake is about 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of Prince Albert. It sits right on the edge of the Canadian Shield, a very old and rocky part of Canada.
Three communities are located on the west shore of the lake. These are La Ronge, Air Ronge, and the Lac La Ronge First Nation.
Fun Things to Do at the Lake
Lac la Ronge is a very popular place for people to visit. Many come here for vacations. There are lots of fun things to do on and around the lake.
You can go fishing for different kinds of fish. Boating and canoeing are also popular ways to explore the water. If you like being on land, you can go hiking on trails or enjoy camping under the stars.
The Lac la Ronge Dam
A special structure called the Lac la Ronge Dam helps control the lake's water level. This dam is an "embankment dam," which means it is made of earth and rocks. It was built in 1966.
The dam is 3.1 meters (10 feet) high and has four gates to let water through. In 2007, the dam was updated. A "fish ladder" was also added. A fish ladder helps fish swim past the dam to lay their eggs.
Exploring the Area Around the Lake
The Lac La Ronge Provincial Park surrounds the lake on three sides. This park is a great place to explore nature. It starts near La Ronge and goes along the east shore.
The park has four places where you can park your RV (recreational vehicle). Two of these are on the west side of the lake. One is in the town of Missinipe. Missinipe is on the southwest shore of Otter Lake. The fourth RV park is on the east shore of Nemeiben Lake.
The Churchill River flows through the northern part of the park. This river is called Missinipe in the Woodland Cree language.
You can also find a hunting and fishing lodge about 26 kilometers (16 miles) north of La Ronge.
Nistowiak Falls
Nistowiak Falls are located on the Rapid River. This river is the main way water flows out of Lac la Ronge into the Churchill River. Nistowiak Falls are one of the tallest waterfalls in Saskatchewan. You can see them by following canoe trails on the north side of the park.
Getting There
Highway 2 runs along the west side of the lake. It ends at La Ronge, where it becomes Highway 102.
You can reach the community of Stanley Mission by taking Highway 915. Stanley Mission is on the shores of the Churchill River. Across the river is the Holy Trinity Anglican Church. This church is the oldest building in Saskatchewan.
Fish in the Lake
Lac la Ronge is home to many different kinds of fish. Some of the fish species you can find here include:
- walleye
- sauger
- yellow perch
- northern pike
- lake trout
- lake whitefish
- cisco
- white sucker
- longnose sucker
- burbot
For a while, people needed a special permit to fish on Lac la Ronge. They also had to keep a "Harvest Ledger" to record their catches. But in May 2017, the Ministry of Environment stopped these rules. This was because the number of fish in the lake had grown very high again.
Islands and Wildlife
Lac la Ronge has many islands, over 1300 of them! Scientists have studied these islands. They want to learn how the size of an island and how far away it is from other land affects the animals living there. This type of study is called "biogeography."
See also
In Spanish: Lago La Ronge para niños
