Lesser Slave Lake

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lesser Slave Lake
SE corner of Lesser Slave Lake from Martin Mountain (looking South). Dog Island, Devonshire Beach, and the town of Slave Lake are visible in the distance.
Coordinates	55°26′N 115°21′W
Lake type	Eutrophic
Primary sources	Heart River Driftpile River
Primary outflows	Lesser Slave River
Catchment area	12,400 km²
Basin countries	Canada
Max-length	100 km+
Max-width	~15 km
Surface area	1,160 km²
Average depth	11.4m
Max-depth	20.5m
Shore length¹	247 km
Surface elevation	578 m
Settlements	Slave Lake
¹ Shore length is an imprecise measure which may not be standardized for this article.

Lesser Slave Lake is a lake located in central Alberta, Canada, northwest of Edmonton. It is the second largest lake entirely within Alberta boundaries (and the largest easily accessible by vehicle), covering 1160 square km and measuring over 100 km long and 15 km at its widest point. Lesser Slave Lake averages 11.4 m in depth and is 20.5 m at its deepest. It drains eastwards into the Athabasca River by way of the Lesser Slave River.

The town of Slave Lake is located at the eastern tip of the lake, around the oultflow of Lesser Slave River.

[edit] Conservation and development

Due to its location, Lesser Slave Lake is popular with birders, being located on a major fly-way for migrating birds, most notably eagles and pelicans.

Nearby Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park has lakeside camping facilities, located along sand beaches. Fishing is popular and legal. The entire north shore of the lake is protected, other reserves being Hilliard's Bay Provincial Park, Lesser Slave Lake Wildland and Grouard Trail Park Reserve.

Highway 2 and the Canadian Pacific Railway follow the southern shore of the lake, and the Bicentennial Highway has its southernmost point at eastern end of the lake.

The Kapawe'no First Nations Lands 150, 230 and 231 indian reserves of the Kapawe'no First Nations, the Sucker Creek 150a of the Sucker Creek tribe, the Drift Pile River 150 of the Driftpile First Nation, the Swan River 150e of the Swan River First Nation and the Sawridge 150g and h of the Sawridge band are established on the shores of the lake.