Windermere Lake (British Columbia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Windermere Lake |
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 Windermere Lake
Location in British Columbia
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| Location | British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 50°27′N 116°00′W / 50.450°N 116.000°W |
| Primary inflows | Columbia River |
| Primary outflows | Columbia River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 1,610 ha (4,000 acres) |
| Average depth | 3.4 metres (11 ft) |
| Max. depth | 6.4 metres (21 ft) |
| Shore length1 | 36 km (22 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 798 m (2,618 ft) |
| Settlements | Windermere, Invermere |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Windermere (also called Windermere Lake) is a very wide part of the Columbia River. It is located in the beautiful province of British Columbia, Canada. The small village of Windermere sits on the east side of the lake. The larger town of Invermere is found on the lake's northwestern corner. This lake is quite shallow, with an average depth of only about 15 feet (4.6 m).
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Discovering Windermere Lake
Lake Windermere is a super popular place for vacations. Many people, especially those from Calgary, love to visit. Calgary is only about a 3-hour car drive to the east. The lake offers lots of fun activities for families and friends.
Exploring the Lake's Sides
The western side of Lake Windermere is quite different from the eastern side. On the west, you'll see the amazing Purcell Mountains. A railroad runs along this shore. Because of the railroad, there are not many houses or vacation spots built here. It remains mostly natural and wild.
The eastern side of the lake is much flatter. This area is located between the lake and the grand Rocky Mountains. This flat land has allowed for a lot of development. You can find many cottages, camping grounds, and fun beaches here. There are also golf courses and other cool tourist attractions. It's a busy and exciting place for visitors.
How Windermere Lake Got Its Name
Long ago, Windermere Lake was known by a different name. People used to call it Lower Columbia Lake. You might still see this name on some older maps of the area. The lake got its current name in 1902. A person named G.M. Sproat gave it the name. He thought it looked a lot like Lake Windermere in the famous English Lake District.
The Longest Ice Skating Trail
Lake Windermere is home to something truly special: the longest ice skating trail in the world! This amazing trail is called the Lake Windermere Whiteway. It is a naturally frozen trail that measures an incredible 29.98 kilometres (18.63 mi). That's almost 30 kilometers of ice to skate on!
In 2014, the Guinness Book of World Records officially checked and confirmed this record. They found that the ice was very thick and safe. Its thickness varied between 12 inches (30 cm) and 30 inches (76 cm). This depended on where you were on the trail's four continuous loops around the lake. It's a fantastic place for winter fun!
