Nikotwasik Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nikotwasik Lake |
|
---|---|
![]() |
|
Location | Manitoba |
Coordinates | 54°43′32″N 101°23′11″W / 54.72556°N 101.38639°W |
Lake type | Glacial Lake |
Primary inflows | Mistik Creek |
Primary outflows | Mistik Creek |
Basin countries | Canada |
Max. length | 1.3 km (0.81 mi) |
Max. width | .1 km (0.062 mi) |
Surface elevation | 315 m (1,033 ft) |
Nikotwasik Lake is a long, narrow lake located in the northern part of Manitoba, Canada. It's a special type of lake called a glacial lake, which means it was formed by huge sheets of ice (glaciers) moving across the land long ago. This lake is part of the Mistik Creek system, a chain of waterways that eventually flows into Hudson Bay.
The area around Nikotwasik Lake is very interesting. It's found in a region known as the Churchill River Upland, which is part of the Midwestern Canadian Shield forests. Here, you'll see a mix of different trees, including both deciduous (trees that lose their leaves) and coniferous (evergreen trees like pines). The land itself has rocky ridges and wet, marshy areas called muskeg, all shaped by the powerful glaciers that once covered this region.
Nikotwasik Lake is also a stop on the famous "Mistik Creek Loop," a remote canoe route that is about 95 km (59 mi) long. Adventurers can paddle this route in about four days, exploring the beautiful wilderness. If you were to fish in the lake, you might catch a northern pike, a common fish found in these waters.
The Name of Nikotwasik Lake
The name "Nikotwasik" comes from the Cree language, an Indigenous language spoken by many First Nations people in Canada. In Cree, "Nikotwasik" means "six." This lake is special because it's one of fourteen lakes along Mistik Creek that are named in numeric order using Cree words.
These lakes are listed from south to north, following the flow of the water:
- Payuk Lake - One
- Neso Lake - Two
- Nisto Lake - Three
- Nao Lake - Four
- Niyanun Lake - Five
- Nikotwasik Lake - Six
- Tapukok Lake - Seven
- Uyenanao Lake - Eight
- Kakat Lake - Nine
- Mitatut Lake - Ten
- Payukosap Lake - Eleven
- Nesosap Lake - Twelve
- Nistosap Lake - Thirteen
- Naosap Lake - Fourteen