Selby Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Selby LakeLac Selby |
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|---|---|
| Location | Brome-Missisquoi, Montérégie, Quebec, Canada |
| Coordinates | 45°05′42″N 72°48′06″W / 45.09500°N 72.80167°W |
| 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.
Contents
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.