Cultus Lake, British Columbia

This article is about the lake, community and park in British Columbia. For the lake in Oregon, see Cultus Lake (Oregon).
Cultus Lake
Location Fraser Valley, British Columbia
Coordinates 49°03′12″N 121°59′12″W / 49.0533°N 121.9867°WCoordinates: 49°03′12″N 121°59′12″W / 49.0533°N 121.9867°W
Primary inflows Frosst Creek, Ascaphus Creek, Smith Falls Creek, Windfall Creek, Clear Creek, Teapot Creek, Watt Creek
Primary outflows Sweltzer River
Catchment area 65 km2 (25 sq mi)
Basin countries Canada
Surface area 6.3 km2 (2.4 sq mi)
Average depth 32 metres (105 ft)
Max. depth 41.8 metres (137 ft)
Surface elevation 47 metres (154 ft)

Cultus Lake is a lake, associated community and provincial park in the Fraser Valley region of British Columbia, Canada. It is the source of the Sweltzer River. The lake itself is warm, and the area has become a popular recreation destination with ample opportunities for fishing, water skiing, wind surfing, and hiking. Cultus Lake is located 11 kilometers (6.8 mi) south of the Chilliwack River, near the city of Chilliwack and approximately 80 kilometers (50 mi) east of Vancouver.[1] In 1950, Cultus Lake became a Provincial Park of British Columbia. Cultus Lake covers an area of 656 hectares, evenly on either side of the lake. At one time the Lake had a sawmill and booming ground until it became a provincial park in the 1950s.

History

Cultus Lake has always been an important place for spirit quests of the Sto:lo people. However, it was named with the Chinook Jargon word meaning primarily bad,[2] worthless, or good for nothing, though the same word can also mean free, without purpose, or simply nothing.[3] The Cultus Lake water park was made in the 1980s.

Government

The Cultus Lake Parks Board includes five commissioners, of whom 3 are elected from Cultus Lake, and 2 from the City of Chilliwack. During the early 1900s, the Cultus Lake area began to build its popularity, which then led to the formation of a joint committee between Cultus Lake and the City of Chilliwack in 1924. This then led to the formation of the Cultus Lake Park Board in 1932, which is still in effect today.[4] As of 2014, the board chairman is Sacha Peter.[5]

Accommodations

In the early 2000s houses on Cultus Lake were no more than $200,000 CAD. In 2009, house costs began at $325,000. In 2014, according to BC Assessment Authority, lakefront homes on First Avenue ranged in assessed value from $461,000 to $973,000. To rent a house for a week in Cultus Lake for the summer runs from $500 to $2700 depending on the location. There are also several campgrounds in the area.

Education

Cultus Lake Community School has approximately 150 students from Kindergarten to Grade 6. The school was first opened in 1947 as a three-room schoolhouse.[6] It was destroyed by fire in February 1959; the current building opened in October of the same year. The school is administered by the Chilliwack School District.

Climate

Waterpark

Cultus Lake water park is British Columbia's most popular waterpark. The park includes picnic areas and many rides and attractions. The waterslides are:

Note: The park also has smaller slides and areas for small children.

Cultus Lake water park

References

  1. ↑ British Columbian Tourist Attractions
  2. ↑ Chinook Jargon Phrasebook: Adverbs & Adjectives
  3. ↑ A dictionary of the Chinook jargon: or, the Trade language of Oregon By George Gibbs page 3.
  4. ↑ Chilliwack Museum Official Website
  5. ↑ "Cultus Lake Park Board". cultuslake.bc.ca. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  6. ↑ History of Cultus Lake Community School (SD33 web site)
  7. ↑ Environment Canada—1971–2000. Retrieved 19 October 2012.

External links