Lake Wahtopanah facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Wahtopanah |
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 Lake Wahtopanah
Location in Manitoba
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| Location | Rural Municipality of Daly / Rural Municipality of Saskatchewan, Manitoba |
| Coordinates | 50°03′55″N 100°10′20″W / 50.06528°N 100.17222°W |
| Type | Artificial lake |
| Catchment area | 1,260 sq mi (3,300 km2) |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 6 mi (9.7 km) |
| Max. width | 2,000 ft (610 m) |
| Surface area | 1,580 acres (6.4 km2) |
| Max. depth | 50 ft (15 m) |
| Water volume | 24,500 acre⋅ft (30,200,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 1,536 ft (468 m) |
Lake Wahtopanah, also known as Rivers Reservoir, is a large artificial lake in Manitoba, Canada. It is located on the Little Saskatchewan River, close to the town of Rivers, Manitoba. This lake was created by building a dam.
The lake is quite big, stretching about 6 miles (10 km) long. It is also about 2,000 feet (610 meters) wide. At its deepest point, the lake goes down about 50 feet (15 meters). It holds a lot of water, covering an area of about 1,580 acres (6.4 square kilometers).
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Why Was Lake Wahtopanah Built?
Lake Wahtopanah was created in 1960. A group called the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration built the dam. The main reason for building it was to help farmers. It provides extra water for irrigation, which means watering crops.
How the Lake Helps People
Besides helping farms, Lake Wahtopanah has many other uses:
- It supplies drinking water for the town of Rivers.
- It provides water for farm animals.
- It's a popular spot for recreation, like boating and fishing.
The lake's water levels are controlled by a special gate. If there's too much water, it flows over a wide concrete spillway. The area that drains into the lake is huge, about 1,260 square miles (3,263 square kilometers). This area even reaches into Riding Mountain National Park. There's also a park and campground on the west side of the lake for visitors.
What Does Wahtopanah Mean?
The name Wahtopanah comes from a Native word. It is an older form of the word watopapinah. This word means "canoe people."
The Big Flood of 2020
In the summer of 2020, Lake Wahtopanah experienced a very rare event. The area received an extreme amount of rain. Over 20 inches (50 cm) of rain fell in just five days. This caused the lake to flood to levels never seen before.
How the Flood Affected the Area
The huge amount of water caused concerns about the dam's safety. Warnings were sent to people living downstream. Nearby towns and the City of Brandon declared emergencies. Over 2,000 residents in Brandon were told to be ready to leave their homes. Sadly, some cabins, homes, and campers near the lake were lost due to the high water.
After the Flood
Once the floodwaters went down, experts checked the dam. They were able to confirm that the dam structure was still strong and safe.
