Manitou Lake (Saskatchewan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Manitou Lake |
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North-West Bay
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 Manitou Lake
Location in Saskatchewan
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| Location | Manitou Lake No. 442, Saskatchewan |
| Coordinates | 52°43′N 109°43′W / 52.717°N 109.717°W |
| Type | Endorheic |
| Primary inflows | Eyehill Creek |
| Catchment area | 3,000 km2 (1,200 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 78 km2 (30 sq mi) |
| Islands | Manitou Island |
| Settlements | Marsden, Neilburg |
Manitou Lake is a unique salt-water lake. You can find it near the border between Saskatchewan and Alberta. It's located northwest of the city of Saskatoon. This lake is special because it's "endorheic." This means water flows into it, but it doesn't flow out to other rivers or oceans. Because it's so salty and has no outlet, you won't find any fish living here. There's an island in the middle called Manitou Island. Because the lake's water level has dropped, this island is now connected to the southern shore.
About Manitou Lake
How the Lake Gets Water
Manitou Lake gets its water mainly from Eyehill Creek. This creek flows into the lake from the south. Many small streams also feed the lake, especially when snow melts in the springtime.
Normally, the lake doesn't flow out anywhere. However, it has overflowed once into the Battle River to the north. This happened only one time since European settlers arrived around 1905.
Changing Water Levels
The water levels in Manitou Lake stayed pretty much the same until 1980. Since then, the water level has been dropping quite fast. It goes down about one meter every six years.
Scientists believe less snowfall each year is a big reason for this change. Also, people are using more water from the Eyehill Creek system. This includes water for cities, industries, and farms.
What's Around the Lake
There isn't a lot of building or development directly on Manitou Lake. However, on the North-West Bay, you'll find some interesting spots. Near the Suffern Lake Regional Park (Manitou Section), there's a golf course and some cabins. There's also a Bible Camp located here.
The small communities of Marsden and Neilburg are close by. You can find them to the north of the lake, along Highway 40.
