Kalamalka Lake

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Kalamalka Lake
Kalamalka Lake -
Location southern central British Columbia
Coordinates 50°10′N 119°22′W / 50.167, -119.367Coordinates: 50°10′N 119°22′W / 50.167, -119.367
Lake type Glacial Lake
Primary outflows Wood Lake
Basin countries Canada
Average depth 142 m.
Shore length1 42.4 km.
Surface elevation 392
Settlements Vernon
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Kalamalka Lake (aka "Kal Lake") is a large lake in the Interior Plateau of southern central British Columbia, Canada, east of Okanagan Lake and approximately 4 kilometers (2 mi) south of Vernon. The lake is named for the Okanagan (Okanogan U.S. spelling) Indian chief who occupied its northern shores, although many believe (incorrectly) that it means (lake of) many colours in the Okanagan language.

At different times of the year the colour of the lake can range from cyan to indigo, in different spots at the same time. The colour of the water is derived from light scattering, caused by the precipitation of calcite (CaCO3).

Kalamalka Lake is also a home to many great beaches. Kal beach and Cosens Bay Beach, which lies right in the heart of Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park, are two of the popular beaches developed on the shores of the lake. Some of the other beaches on this lake are Jade Bay Beach, Juniper Bay Beach, Kekuli Bay Beach, Kirkland Park Beach, and on the south end, Kaloya Regional Park Beach.

This wonderful lake lies right on the city of Vernon. Its wonderful colors and beautifully clean water are only a few of the many features that attract many of the locals to stop by for a swim.

Two provincial parks are situated along Kalamalka Lake, Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park and Protected Area[1] and Kekuli Bay Provincial Park.

[edit] History

Kalamalka lake is a glacial lake that flows into Wood Lake and also the well known Okanagan Lake. The previous name of the lake was Long Lake.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park
  • Anonymous (1974a). Kalamalka-Wood Lake Basin Water Resource Management Study. Water Investigations Branch, British Columbia Water Resources Service, Victoria, B.C., 209 pp.
  • Anonymous (1974b). Limnology of the Major Lakes in the Okanagan Basin. Canada - British Columbia Okanagan Basin Agreement, Final Report, Technical Supplement V. British Columbia Water Resources Service, Victoria, British Columbia, 261 pp.
  • Anonymous (1974c). The Main Report of the Consultative Board. Canada - British Columbia Okanagan Basin Agreement. British Columbia Water Resources Service, Victoria, British Columbia.
  • Stockner, J.G. and Northcote, T.G. (1974). Recent limnological studies of Okanagan Basin lakes and their contribution to comprehensive water resource planning. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada, 31, 955-976.

[edit] External links