Qamanirjuaq Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Qamanirjuaq Lake |
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 Qamanirjuaq Lake
Location in Nunavut
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| Location | Kivalliq Region, Nunavut |
| Coordinates | 62°57′N 95°46′W / 62.950°N 95.767°W |
| Primary inflows | Ferguson River |
| Primary outflows | Ferguson River at Parker Lake South |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 549 km2 (212 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 92 m (302 ft) |
| Islands | several (unnamed) |
| Settlements | 146 km (91 mi) S of Baker Lake; 200 km (124 mi) W of Rankin Inlet |
Qamanirjuaq Lake is a large lake in Nunavut, Canada. It used to be called Kaminuriak Lake. Its name means "huge lake adjoining a river at both ends."
This lake is part of the Ferguson River system. The river flows east through the barrenlands. Qamanirjuaq Lake is the first of several lakes on this river. It is located just downstream from Ferguson Lake. The river flows through some fast-moving sections before reaching Qamanirjuaq Lake.
Exploring Qamanirjuaq Lake's Geography
Qamanirjuaq Lake has an interesting, uneven shape. It has many small bays and islands that don't have names. The area around the lake has permafrost, which is ground that stays frozen all year. It is also north of the tree line, meaning no trees grow there.
In 1894, an Arctic explorer named Joseph Tyrrell visited the lake. He described it as a "beautiful sheet of clear cold water." He noted that some beaches were sandy, while others had large rocks. These rocks often formed a wall along the shore. Beyond the lake, he saw wide, treeless plains and low, grassy hills.
The lake is located in a very old part of Canada's land. This area is called the Canadian Shield. It has some of the oldest rocks on Earth.
There is also a special cave near Qamanirjuaq Lake. It is called Ahimaa, which means "are you other?" in Inuktitut. This cave was once a home for an Inuk person.
The Qamanirjuaq Caribou Herd
The Qamanirjuaq caribou herd is a very large group of barren-ground caribou. They are named after this lake because their calving grounds are in the surrounding area. Calving grounds are where caribou mothers give birth to their calves.
These caribou travel long distances every year. They can journey about 800 km (500 mi) through parts of Manitoba, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories. Their exact path can change each year.
The Qamanirjuaq caribou are a keystone species. This means they are very important to the health of their ecosystem. Since 1982, a group called the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board has worked to protect this herd.
Fish and Other Life
Qamanirjuaq Lake is home to many fish. In the 1970s, a commercial fishery was moved here. This happened because another nearby lake, Kaminak Lake, had high levels of mercury in its fish. Qamanirjuaq Lake, however, showed no high mercury levels.
The lake is full of fish like lake whitefish and lake trout. These are important for commercial fishing. Besides fish, you can also find other living things around the lake. These include Lasallia pensylvanica lichen, sphagnum moss, bryophytes (small plants like mosses), and some dwarf birch plants.
