Lac Île-à-la-Crosse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lac Île-à-la-Crosse |
|
|---|---|
NASA map showing Lac Île-à-la-Crosse
|
|
 Lac Île-à-la-Crosse
Location in Saskatchewan
|
|
| Location | Saskatchewan |
| Coordinates | 55°26′40″N 107°50′55″W / 55.44444°N 107.84861°W |
| Lake type | glacial lake |
| Primary inflows | Churchill Lake by Aubichon Arm or Deep River, Beaver River |
| Primary outflows | Churchill River |
| Catchment area | Churchill River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Islands | Big Island |
| Settlements | Île-à-la-Crosse , Patuanak is near the north end on the Churchill. |
Lac Île-à-la-Crosse is a large lake in north-central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is part of the Churchill River system. The lake has a unique Y-shape.
Right in the middle of this Y-shaped lake is the town of Île-à-la-Crosse. This town is very old, being the second oldest in Saskatchewan. The Churchill River flows into the lake from the northwest. This part is sometimes called Aubichon Arm or Deep River.
The Churchill River then leaves the lake from the northeast. It continues its journey east towards Hudson Bay, passing through many other lakes. Another important river, the Beaver River, flows into Lac Île-à-la-Crosse from the south and west. You can reach the lake by following Saskatchewan Highway 155. This highway runs alongside the Beaver River.
A Lake's Location and Connections
Lac Île-à-la-Crosse is surrounded by other interesting places. To the southeast, you'll find Lac la Plonge. To the southwest is Canoe Lake. East of Lac Île-à-la-Crosse, the Churchill River widens into many more lakes.
The Churchill River, which flows through this lake, connects to many other waterways. Upstream from Lac Île-à-la-Crosse, the river leads towards Athabasca Country. It passes through lakes like Churchill Lake, Peter Pond Lake, and Lac La Loche. These connections were very important in the past for travel and trade.
History of Fur Trading Posts
.jpg)
Because of its perfect location, Lac Île-à-la-Crosse became a very important stop for the North American fur trade. This was a time when people traded animal furs, especially beaver pelts. These furs were used to make hats and clothing in Europe.
Traders used canoe routes to move goods. They often carried pemmican, a type of dried meat, up the Beaver River from areas where buffalo lived.
The first European trader reported on the Beaver River was Louis Primeau in 1767. He worked for the Hudson's Bay Company. This means he likely passed through Lac Île-à-la-Crosse. Later, in 1776, Primeau built a trading post right on the lake.
Many famous explorers and traders visited or stayed at Lac Île-à-la-Crosse. In 1776-77, Peter Pond and Thomas Frobisher spent the winter here. Around 1786, the Scottish explorer Alexander Mackenzie was also active in the area. He worked for a company that competed with others.
By 1789, many smaller trading groups joined together to form the powerful North West Company. Around 1790, William McGillivray managed the Churchill River Department for this company from Lac Île-à-la-Crosse. A notable event happened here in 1799: the explorer David Thompson (explorer) married a young Métis woman. Their marriage lasted his entire life, which was unusual for the time.
The Hudson's Bay Company also built posts on the lake. William Linklater built one in 1799. However, traders from the North West Company sometimes caused trouble for their rivals. In 1811, the Hudson's Bay Company was forced to leave their post, and it was burned down.
But they didn't give up! In 1814, the Hudson's Bay Company built a new post in a different spot. They even built a third one, which they called Fort Superior. Finally, in 1821, the two big companies, the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company, merged. This brought an end to much of the competition. Even as late as the 1980s, an old Hudson's Bay Company warehouse was still standing near the town of Île-à-la-Crosse.
