Lac Île-à-la-Crosse
Lac Île-à-la-Crosse is a Y-shaped lake in the north-central region of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan along the course of the Churchill River. At the centre of the "Y" is the town of Île-à-la-Crosse, the second oldest town in Saskatchewan. Situated at the confluence of the Churchill and Beaver Rivers, the lake was an important fur trading centre in the 18th and 19th centuries. The lake, and the community of Île-à-la-Crosse, are named after the game of Lacrosse as French voyageurs had witnessed local Indians playing the game on an island in the lake.
| Lac Île-à-la-Crosse | |
|---|---|
NASA map showing Lac Île-à-la-Crosse | |
Lac Île-à-la-Crosse Location in Saskatchewan Lac Île-à-la-Crosse Lac Île-à-la-Crosse (Canada) | |
| Location | Northern Saskatchewan Administration District |
| Coordinates | 55°26′40″N 107°50′55″W |
| Lake type | Glacial lake |
| Etymology | Lacrosse |
| Primary inflows | |
| Primary outflows | Churchill River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 46,737.5 ha (115,491 acres) |
| Max. depth | 31.1 m (102 ft) |
| Shore length1 | 1,151.3 km (715.4 mi) |
| Islands |
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| Settlements |
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| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lac Île-à-la-Crosse is reached from the south by Highway 155, which follows the Beaver River. On the north side of the mouth of the Beaver River is the Île-à-la-Crosse Indian reserve. On the south side is Fort Black, the site of a former Northwest Trading Company Post. Highway 918 runs along the eastern shore and provides access to Patuanak and the Wapachewunak Indian reserve. The community of Île-à-la-Crosse is reached from Highway 908. There are two airports — Île-à-la-Crosse Airport and Patuanak Airport — on the lake's shores. Around the lake there are recreational opportunities such as camping, boating, swimming, and fishing.