Moose Lake (Manitoba) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Moose Lake
NASA image showing North and South Moose Lake
Moose Lake Location in Manitoba
Location	Manitoba, Canada
Coordinates	53°56′N 100°09′W / 53.94°N 100.15°W / 53.94; -100.15
Primary outflows	Moose Creek
Basin countries	Canada
Surface area	1,367 km2 (528 sq mi)
Surface elevation	255 m (837 ft)
Settlements	Moose Lake

Moose Lake is a large lake located in Manitoba, Canada. It is found near the Saskatchewan River Delta, which is where the Saskatchewan River spreads out into many channels.

Moose Lake is divided into two main parts: North Moose Lake and South Moose Lake. These two sections are separated by a special structure called the Moose Lake Narrows Control Structure, which was built in 1964. Water from South Moose Lake flows south into another lake called Cedar Lake through Moose Creek. Both Moose Lake and Cedar Lake are important because they form a reservoir for the Grand Rapids Generating Station. This power station uses the water to create electricity. The sluice gates at Moose Lake Narrows help control the water levels in both lakes for the power station.

The lake sits about 255 meters (837 feet) above sea level. It covers a large area of about 1,367 square kilometers (528 square miles). The community of Moose Lake is located on the southern shore of the lake.

People and Moose Lake

For a long time, people have used the area around Moose Lake.

Early History and Fur Trade

Long ago, fur traders used a special path, called a portage, to travel between the Saskatchewan and Nelson Rivers. This path connected the eastern end of South Moose Lake to the start of the Minago River.

The Cree people, who were semi-nomadic (meaning they moved from place to place), originally lived around Moose Lake. Sadly, many of them died during a widespread sickness in the winter of 1781–1782. After this, other Swampy Cree people moved into the area from the east and settled there.

Modern Activities

Today, people in the Moose Lake area still work in activities like logging (cutting down trees), fishing, and trapping animals.

A man named Tom Lamb had a cattle ranch at Moose Lake from 1953 to 1964. However, he had to close it because of flooding caused by the Grand Rapids hydroelectric project. This project involved building the Grand Rapids Dam.

The building of the Grand Rapids Dam caused a lot of the land belonging to the Mosakahiken Cree Nation (an Indigenous community also known as the Moose Lake Cree) to be flooded. About 66% of their territory went underwater. This had very serious effects on their community. For example, moose hunting, which was a very important way for them to get food and make a living, became impossible.

In 2008, the Mosakahiken Cree Nation and the province of Manitoba signed an agreement. This agreement was a settlement to pay for the damages caused by the Grand Rapids project and the flooding of their land.