Shoal Lakes (Manitoba) facts for kids
The Shoal Lakes are a group of lakes found in the southern Interlake region of Manitoba, Canada. They are located between two much larger lakes, Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba. The Shoal Lakes are actually three separate lakes: North Shoal Lake, West Shoal Lake, and East Shoal Lake.
The land around the lakes is mostly used for cattle grazing, with some areas having rocks. Because the land is very flat, even small changes in the water level can greatly affect the plants and animals living there. These lakes are a very important place for birds that migrate (travel long distances) and for those that build nests and raise their young. Many different kinds of waterfowl, like ducks and geese, use the Shoal Lakes.
The History of Shoal Lakes
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Long ago, the three Shoal Lakes were actually one big lake. But things changed in 1912 when a channel called the Wagon Creek Drain was built. This drain caused the water level in the lake to drop a lot, by about four to five meters (13 to 16 feet).
When the water level dropped, the single large lake split into the three separate lakes we see today. These new lakes became "alkaline," meaning they have a higher salt content, and they also contained several islands that appeared as the water receded.
The Big Flood of 2010
In 2010, the Shoal Lakes experienced a major flood. The water rose so much that the three separate lakes joined together again, becoming one large body of water, just like they were before 1912.
This flood caused significant problems for local roads. Highway 299, west of Highway 17, was covered in water and damaged for about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers). Highway 518, also known as Ideal Road, was underwater for one mile (1.6 kilometers) south of Highway 415. Additionally, Highway 415, west of Inwood, Manitoba, was flooded for 2 to 3 miles (3.2 to 4.8 kilometers). The flood showed how much the water levels can change in this flat area.
