Shawnigan Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shawnigan Lake |
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 Shawnigan Lake
Location in Vancouver Island
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| Location | Vancouver Island, British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 48°37′N 123°38′W / 48.617°N 123.633°W |
| Basin countries | Canada |
Shawnigan Lake is a beautiful lake located on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It's found west of Saanich Inlet and south of the Cowichan Valley. The local Indigenous people, the Hul'qumi'num, call this lake Shaanii'us.
Contents
Understanding Shawnigan Lake's Rocks and Soil
The Lake's Bedrock: A Look at Ancient Rocks
The ground under and around Shawnigan Lake is made of different kinds of rocks. Most of the southern part has very old rocks, from the Lower Paleozoic era. These rocks are called meta-igneous, which means they were once fiery volcanic rocks that changed over time due to heat and pressure.
Some of these rocks are rich in dark, heavy minerals. But along the southeastern edge, you'll find rocks with lighter, brighter minerals. You can also spot bands of marble, a beautiful white or colored rock, scattered in this area. Near the northern parts of the lake, the rocks are from the Jurassic period, which is the time of dinosaurs!
Shawnigan Lake's Soil: What's Under Your Feet?
The soil around Shawnigan Lake is mostly well-drained. This means water easily passes through it. It's often a mix of gravel, sand, and loam, which is a balanced soil type. These soils have a special structure called a brown podzolic profile.
Some of these soils are even called podzols by Canadian soil scientists. Podzols are known for their distinct layers, often with a light-colored layer under the surface. At the very southern end of the Shawnigan Lake community, there's a small area of peat. Peat is a type of soil made from decayed plant matter, often found in wet, boggy places.
Shawnigan Lake's Amazing Wildlife
Fish in the Lake: A Home for Aquatic Life
Shawnigan Lake is home to several types of fish. You can find colorful rainbow trout and cutthroat trout swimming in its waters. There are also kokanee salmon, which are a type of salmon that live their whole lives in freshwater lakes.
Another fish you might spot is the smallmouth bass. These fish are popular for sport fishing. There are enough fish in the lake to support people who enjoy fishing for fun.
Special Places and History at Shawnigan Lake
Memory Island Provincial Park: A Place to Remember
In the middle of Shawnigan Lake, there's a small island called Memory Island Provincial Park. This park was created to honor two people from the lake community who were lost during the Second World War. It's a quiet and special place.
Old Mill Park: A Glimpse into the Past
Another interesting spot is Old Mill Park. Here, you can still see parts of an old lumber mill. This mill was built almost a hundred years ago to help the new village of Shawnigan Lake grow.
Sadly, the mill burned down a few years after it was built. But even today, you can still see the old wooden supports from the mill sticking out of the lake. They are a cool reminder of the area's history.
Shawnigan Lake's Weather: What to Expect
| Climate data for Shawnigan Lake, 1981–2010 normals | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.0 (59.0) |
18.3 (64.9) |
22.2 (72.0) |
30.0 (86.0) |
33.9 (93.0) |
35.6 (96.1) |
37.2 (99.0) |
36.1 (97.0) |
33.5 (92.3) |
28.3 (82.9) |
20.0 (68.0) |
16.0 (60.8) |
37.2 (99.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.3 (43.3) |
7.8 (46.0) |
10.4 (50.7) |
13.6 (56.5) |
17.2 (63.0) |
20.2 (68.4) |
23.3 (73.9) |
23.6 (74.5) |
20.5 (68.9) |
14.1 (57.4) |
8.5 (47.3) |
5.6 (42.1) |
14.3 (57.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.4 (38.1) |
4.1 (39.4) |
6.1 (43.0) |
8.7 (47.7) |
12.1 (53.8) |
15.1 (59.2) |
17.7 (63.9) |
17.9 (64.2) |
14.9 (58.8) |
10.0 (50.0) |
5.6 (42.1) |
3.1 (37.6) |
9.9 (49.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 0.5 (32.9) |
0.4 (32.7) |
1.7 (35.1) |
3.8 (38.8) |
7.0 (44.6) |
10.0 (50.0) |
12.0 (53.6) |
12.0 (53.6) |
9.3 (48.7) |
5.8 (42.4) |
2.6 (36.7) |
0.5 (32.9) |
5.5 (41.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −21.1 (−6.0) |
−16.7 (1.9) |
−11.7 (10.9) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
0.0 (32.0) |
3.9 (39.0) |
3.3 (37.9) |
−3.9 (25.0) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
−15.6 (3.9) |
−15 (5) |
−21.1 (−6.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 215.3 (8.48) |
134.7 (5.30) |
119.2 (4.69) |
71.0 (2.80) |
50.6 (1.99) |
40.0 (1.57) |
23.2 (0.91) |
27.9 (1.10) |
33.3 (1.31) |
114.7 (4.52) |
225.4 (8.87) |
194.6 (7.66) |
1,250 (49.21) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 195.1 (7.68) |
120.7 (4.75) |
112.5 (4.43) |
70.9 (2.79) |
50.6 (1.99) |
40.0 (1.57) |
23.2 (0.91) |
27.9 (1.10) |
33.3 (1.31) |
114.1 (4.49) |
214.2 (8.43) |
179.7 (7.07) |
1,182.2 (46.52) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 20.3 (8.0) |
14.1 (5.6) |
6.8 (2.7) |
0.1 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.7 (0.3) |
11.2 (4.4) |
14.9 (5.9) |
67.9 (26.7) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 20.4 | 16.3 | 18.7 | 16.4 | 13.7 | 10.5 | 6.1 | 5.9 | 8.2 | 15.6 | 21.6 | 20.0 | 173.3 |
| Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) | 18.9 | 15.2 | 18.3 | 16.4 | 13.7 | 10.5 | 6.1 | 5.9 | 8.2 | 15.5 | 20.9 | 18.8 | 168.4 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) | 3.0 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 0.04 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.08 | 1.4 | 3.1 | 11.02 |
| Source: Environment Canada | |||||||||||||
