Nicola Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nicola Lake |
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 Nicola Lake
Location in British Columbia
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| Location | British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 50°10′N 120°31′W / 50.167°N 120.517°W |
| Primary inflows | Nicola River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Average depth | 24 m (79 ft) |
| Max. depth | 55 m (180 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 628 m (2,060 ft) |
Nicola Lake is a long, deep lake in British Columbia, Canada. It's about 30 kilometers northeast of Merritt. This beautiful lake was once a very important place for early settlers and the local Nicola people. Today, people enjoy it for fun activities like boating and fishing. It also helps store water for farms and for fish living in the Nicola River.
The lake is special to the Nicola people. One of their main communities, Nicola Lake Indian Reserve No. 1, is on its eastern shore. This is home to the Upper Nicola Band. Many members of the band work for the Douglas Lake Cattle Company. This large ranch also has its headquarters near the lake.
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Where is Nicola Lake?
Nicola Lake sits 628 meters above sea level. It's like a wider part of the Nicola River. The lake is about 22 kilometers long. It mostly runs from northeast to southwest, with a gentle curve. The lake is about 24 meters deep on average. Its deepest point is 55 meters. The valley around the lake is narrow and has mountains. This creates strong winds, which are great for sailing and windsurfing!
You can easily drive to Nicola Lake from Merritt. Highway 5A runs along the lake's eastern side. You'll pass through small communities like Quilchena and Nicola. The Nicola River flows into the lake near Quilchena. It leaves the lake through the Nicola Dam at the south end.
Fun at Nicola Lake
Nicola Lake is a popular spot for recreation. It's about three hours from Vancouver. The area has warm weather for much of the year. This makes it a great place to visit.
Monck Provincial Park
Monck Provincial Park is on the lake's shore. This site was once a First Nations village. You can still see old depressions in the ground. These are called quiggly holes. They were once the homes of local indigenous people. At the park, you can go camping, boating, and swimming.
Fishing in the Lake
Nicola Lake is also a favorite place for fishing. People mainly try to catch rainbow trout and Kokanee. You might also find Burbot in the lake. If you catch a Burbot, you must release it back into the water.
Sailing and Windsurfing
The strong winds in the valley make Nicola Lake perfect for sailing and windsurfing. The Kamloops Sailing Association has a facility at Quilchena. It was built for the sailing events of the Canada Games in 1993. Today, club members and guests can sail there. They also offer lessons for new sailors. There's a popular spot along Highway 5A for windsurfers. It was dedicated to a local windsurfer.
Water for Life
Nicola Lake is an important part of the Thompson River basin. It plays a key role in the salmon life cycle in British Columbia. Water levels in the Interior can be low. So, the lake, controlled by a dam, provides water. This water flows downstream through the summer. It helps vulnerable coho salmon and other fish species.
Some groups are concerned about water flows. There are ongoing talks about how to manage the dam. People also discuss water supplies in the entire watershed.
