Lake St. Joseph (Ontario) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake St. Joseph |
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 Lake St. Joseph
Location in Ontario
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| Location | Kenora District and Thunder Bay District, Ontario |
| Coordinates | 51°03′13″N 90°49′38″W / 51.05361°N 90.82722°W |
| Type | Lake |
| Part of | James Bay drainage basin |
| Primary inflows | Cat River, Doghole River, Miniss River, Pembina River |
| Primary outflows | Albany River, diversion to the Root River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 90 kilometres (56 mi) |
| Max. width | 18 kilometres (11 mi) |
| Surface area | 493 square kilometres (190 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 374 metres (1,227 ft) |
Lake St. Joseph is a large lake in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It is located in the Kenora District and Thunder Bay District. This lake is part of the James Bay drainage basin. It is also the starting point for the Albany River. You can reach the east side of the lake using Ontario Highway 599. The town of Pickle Lake is about 30 kilometers north of the lake.
Contents
A Look at History
Long ago, Lake St. Joseph was a key part of a canoe route. This route was used for the fur trade. Traders traveled from James Bay, through the lake, and further west. The Hudson's Bay Company built a trading post here. It was called Osnaburgh House. This trading post opened in 1786 and stayed active until 1939.
Fishing in Lake St. Joseph
Lake St. Joseph is a great place for freshwater fishing. It is known as a wilderness area. If you want to fish here, you need a special permit. This permit comes from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. You also need any other fishing licenses.
Access to the lake is limited because it is a wilderness area. Most people who want to fish stay at special fishing camps. These camps are usually on the eastern side of the lake. There is also a small camp on an island in the middle of the lake. The main types of fish you can catch are walleye, northern pike, and yellow perch.
How Water is Diverted
An agreement was made between the provinces of Manitoba and Ontario. This agreement was about diverting water from Lake St. Joseph. It became a law in 1958. The water diversion helps power several hydroelectric stations. These stations make electricity using water power.
The water is diverted to help power stations at Ear Falls and Manitou Falls. These stations are on the English River. The diversion also helps stations further down the Winnipeg River and Nelson River. Dams at Rat Rapids control the water flowing out of the lake. Some water is sent into the Root River. This river is in a nearby lake system called Lac Seul. The path for this diverted water is next to an old portage route.
Rivers Flowing into the Lake
Many rivers and creeks flow into Lake St. Joseph. They are listed here, starting from where the Albany River flows out:
- Doran River
- Miniss River
- Cat River
- Pembina River
- Matapesatakun Creek
- Doghole River
