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Selby Lake
Lac Selby
Lac Selby - USGS.jpg
Selby Lake is located in Quebec
Selby Lake
Selby Lake
Location in Quebec
Location Brome-Missisquoi, Montérégie, Quebec, Canada
Coordinates 45°05′42″N 72°48′06″W / 45.09500°N 72.80167°W / 45.09500; -72.80167
Type Fresh water lake
Primary inflows Bérard Creek
Primary outflows Pike River
Basin countries Canada
Max. length 2 km (1.2 mi)
Max. width 0.8 km (0.50 mi)
Surface area 1.2 km2 (0.46 sq mi)
Average depth 1 metre (3.3 ft)
Max. depth 10 metres (33 ft)
Surface elevation 180 m (590 ft)
Settlements Dunham

Selby Lake (also known as Lac Selby in French) is a beautiful freshwater lake. It is found entirely within Dunham, a town in the southern part of Quebec, Canada. This lake is a popular spot in the Montérégie region.

Discovering Selby Lake

Selby Lake is about 2 km (1.2 mi) long and 0.8 km (0.50 mi) wide. Its total area is around 1.2 km2 (0.46 sq mi). The lake is not very deep on average, about 1 m (3 ft 3 in). However, its deepest point reaches 10 m (33 ft).

Fun Activities at the Lake

For a long time, Selby Lake has been a favorite place for people to visit. Many enjoyed rowing boats on its calm waters. It was also a great spot for fishing. People from Dunham and nearby Frelighsburg often came here. Today, there are 183 homes and cottages built along the lake's edge.

Keeping the Lake Healthy

In the 1970s, experts noticed that Selby Lake was becoming unhealthy. It was getting too many nutrients, a process called eutrophication. This can make a lake have too much algae.

To help the lake, big changes were made. In 1986 and 1987, a new sewer system was built in Dunham. This replaced old septic tanks that could pollute the lake.

Many other steps were taken to improve the lake's condition. The land along the shore was replanted with plants. Old ditches were fixed. Special sensors were put in to check for dirt and pollution. Catchment basins were also installed to collect runoff. These efforts were a team project between the city of Dunham and a group called the Association pour la protection de l’environnement du lac Selby (APELS).

Challenges for the Lake

In 2007, Selby Lake, like some other lakes in Quebec, faced a problem. It was found to have blue-green algae. This type of algae can sometimes be harmful.

Selby Lake in Pop Culture

Selby Lake was even mentioned in a popular TV show! It appeared in season 2, episode 12 of the American drama series Homeland. In the episode, a character named Carrie Mathison drove Nicholas Brody close to the Canada–United States border. She told him to walk through the woods to meet a friend. This friend had a summer cabin right at Lake Selby.

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