| Lesser Slave Lake | |
|---|---|
| SE corner of the lake from Martin Mountain (looking South). Dog Island, Devonshire Beach, and the town of Slave Lake are visible in the distance. | |
| Location | Big Lakes / Lesser Slave River No. 124, Alberta |
| Lake type | Eutrophic[1] |
| Primary inflows | Assineau River, Driftpile River, Heart River, Marten River, Swan River |
| Primary outflows | Lesser Slave River |
| Catchment area | 13,900 km2 (5,400 sq mi)[2] |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | +100 km (62 mi) |
| Max. width | 15 km (9.3 mi) |
| Surface area | 1,168 km2 (451 sq mi)[3] |
| Average depth | 11.4 m (37 ft) |
| Max. depth | 20.5 m (67 ft) |
| Water volume | 13.69 km³[2] |
| Shore length1 | 247 km (153 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 578 m (1,896 ft) |
| Settlements | Slave Lake |
| References | [1][2][3] |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
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 1,160 km2 (450 sq mi) and measuring over 100 km (62 mi) long and 15 km (9.3 mi) at its widest point. Lesser Slave Lake averages 11.4 m (37 ft) in depth and is 20.5 m (67 ft) 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. According to the town's website, the name Slave Lake originated with "an aboriginal nation derogatorily named 'Slavee' by several tribes of the invading Cree nation."
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Due to its location on a major fly-way for migrating birds, Lesser Slave Lake is popular with birders.[4] The nearby Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park has lakeside camping facilities located along sand beaches, with some rocky beaches as well. 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 National Railway follow the southern shore of the lake, and the Bicentennial Highway has its southernmost point at eastern end of the lake.
A number of Indian reserves are established at the shores of the lake:
On May 20, 2011, a firefighter helicopter crashed into the lake while fighting the 2011 Slave Lake fire. The pilot died.
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