Mara Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mara Lake |
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Mara lake from the beach at Mara Provincial Park
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 Mara Lake
Location in British Columbia
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| Location | Shuswap Country, Southern Interior of British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 50°47′N 119°00′W / 50.783°N 119.000°W |
| Primary inflows | Shuswap River |
| Primary outflows | Sicamous Narrows |
| Basin countries | Canada |
Mara Lake is a beautiful lake in the Shuswap Country of British Columbia, Canada. It is located just south of the town of Sicamous. To its north is the community of Enderby.
The Shuswap River flows into Mara Lake. This river starts high up in the Monashee Mountains. The water then leaves Mara Lake through a short waterway called Sicamous Narrows. This waterway connects Mara Lake to Shuswap Lake. It even passes under the Trans-Canada Highway and the Canadian Pacific Railway in Sicamous. All these waters eventually flow into the South Thompson River.
Mara Lake is a great place for boating. You can easily travel by boat from Mara Lake to Shuswap Lake. The area is very popular for water activities. Besides Mara Provincial Park, you can also find the Mara Point Site. This site is part of Shuswap Lake Marine Provincial Park.
Why is it called Mara Lake?
The lake is named after John Andrew Mara. He was an important person in British Columbia's history. John Mara was born in Toronto. In 1865, he owned a store on Shuswap Lake. Later, he had a store in Kamloops.
He was a merchant, a miller, and even ran steamships. He helped start the Kootenay Steam Navigation Company. He also promoted the Shuswap & Okanagan Railway. This railway connected Sicamous to Okanagan Lake.
John Mara was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from 1871 to 1886. He was the Speaker of the Assembly from 1883 to 1886. He also served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1887 to 1896. He retired to Victoria and passed away in 1920 at 79 years old.
A Look at History
During World War I, a special camp was set up near Mara Lake. This camp was used from June 1915 to July 1917. It provided housing for people during that time.
Nearby Communities
The Sicamous area is a popular spot for tourists every summer. Many visitors come to enjoy the lake and its surroundings. For example, about 90% of the people living in nearby Swansea Point are seasonal residents. Thousands of visitors come to this area in July and August each year.
