Canada takes great pleasure in many things, but its natural beauty, highlighted by snow-capped mountains and pristine lakes, is among its most cherished. The nation has a stellar reputation for its abundant freshwater resources. Moreover nine percent of Canada is covered by freshwater, which includes lakes, rivers, and glaciers. In fact, no other nation in the world can compare to Canada in terms of its abundance of lakes. Here the 10 Biggest Lakes in Canada. Canada is blessed with a vast waterway system that includes three oceans, innumerable lakes and rivers, and the Great Lakes.
Experts estimate that there might be 2 million lakes in Canada. Some may seem like superficial flaws, but many are really rather significant. Canada has more than 14% of the world’s lakes, covering over 193 square miles of land (500 km2). Listed are The 10 Biggest Lakes in Canada, as measured in square kilometers of water.
1. Largest freshwater lake in the world
Simply put, Lake Superior is the largest freshwater body in all of North America and the largest lake in Canada. A total of 31,700 square miles makes up its size. You could fill many ocean basins with that much. This lake holds the record for the biggest volume of freshwater on Earth. Talking about Biggest Lakes in Canada, Canada has over 2 million lakes and rivers, with a total of 5.2 million square kilometers of water. With so much water to explore, it’s sometimes hard to know which lakes are the biggest. Lake Superior is the tallest of the Great Lakes. Obviously, the lake was once known by other names. The term “gichi-gami,” literally “great sea,” was one of them. The British are responsible for the lake’s present moniker. One might assume that the lake’s size was the deciding factor in the naming decision.
2. This is Smallwood Reservoir.
Despite its name, this lake has an area of 2,520 sq mi. While it has the appearance of a lake, the Churchill Falls Reservoir was constructed specifically to provide the electrical needs of the Churchill Falls Generating Station in Labrador, western Canada. Joey Smallwood’s name has been given to the second body of water. He was Newfoundland’s first premier. There are 88 dikes around the reservoir to keep water in. A whole nine years were needed to finish the project. Some reports indicate that the reservoir was completed five months early.
3. Lake Reindeer
The western part of Canada is home to this beautiful lake. It spans around 2,570 square miles in area. For the time being, it ranks as Canada’s seventh biggest lake. A lake monster mythology exists at Reindeer Lake. The lake’s uniqueness is heightened by the fact that it sits on the site of a meteorite strike. That stated, this lake is renowned as a fishing spot. A large, trophy-quality pike may be seen in this area. In addition to recreational fishing, the lake also supports small-scale commercial fishing operations. It is for this reason that Reindeer Lake is dotted with fishing cottages.
4. Lago Athabasca
The surface area of this lake is 3,064 square miles, making it the eighth biggest in Canada. It straddles the border between Alberta and Saskatchewan in the north-northwest. In addition to being the biggest lake in Saskatchewan and Alberta, Lake Athabasca is also the deepest. Using the most up-to-date measurements available, we may deduce that the lake is 50 kilometers wide and 124 meters deep. In the past, mining activities in the area have unfortunately contributed to the pollution of this lake. Twenty-three fish species call this lake their home even now. The 46-kilogram lake trout that was taken there adds to its notoriety. It is still a world record holder!
5. Ontario Lake
This lake is regarded as one of the Great Lakes of North America. The landmass is 19,080 square kilometers. Although Ontario forms the lake’s northern, eastern, and southwestern borders, New York State occupies the lake’s southern and western shores. Aside from being the 7th biggest lake in Canada, Lake Ontario ranks 13th as the largest in the globe. The native Huron language of Canada is the source of the lake’s name. As its original name implies, “big lake” (Ontari’io) describes the size and scope of the water body. Since Norse artifacts were discovered nearby, Sodus Bay on Lake Ontario is also a significant historical location.
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6. Winnipeg Lake
The size of Lake Winnipeg is 9,465 square miles, making it the sixth-largest lake in Canada. The average depth of this lake is just 12 meters, despite its size. Lake Winnipeg is not just the eleventh-largest lake in the world but also a World Heritage Site recognized by the United Nations. This is due to the presence of unspoiled woodlands and rivers on the lake’s eastern shore. This lake is unique since it is home to many different types of fish. Bigmouth buffalo and short-jawed cisco, on the other hand, are endangered in this lake. Even still, the lake is an important location for waterfowl. It’s useful for both building nests and eating. Lake Winnipeg is home to a number of parks, including Fisher Bay Provincial Park and Beaver Creek Provincial Park.
7. The Great Lake of Erie
There are 9,990 square miles of water in this lake. However, among Canada’s Great Lakes, it is the shallowest. It averages out to be around 19 meters deep and goes all the way up to 64 meters deep. Because of its low depth, the hottest of the Great Lakes was found in Erie. Two local nuclear power stations ran into trouble because they couldn’t cool their reactors without the water. In spite of the fact that it is the hottest lake, Lake Erie freezes over quickly each winter. You should also know that the Native Americans who settled on the lake’s southern side are responsible for the origin of the lake’s name.
8. Superior Ice Field
With an area of 11,030 square miles, this lake is the second-largest in Canada’s Northwest Territories. At 336 fathoms (614 meters), it is also the deepest lake in North America. Despite its unfortunate moniker, its origins are unrelated to slavery. Lake Slavey was named after the Dene tribe of the same name. They belonged to the Athapaskan peoples who inhabited the southern shores of the lake. Ice Road, also known as the Dettah ice road, is one of the unique features of Great Slave Lake. Dettah is linked to the Northwest Territories via a road that is 6.5 kilometers in length. In the heat of summer, the quickest route to Dettah involves a 27-kilometer detour down the Ingraham Trail.
9. The Great Bear Lake
This lake is the third biggest in Canada, with an area of 12,096 square miles. In spite of this, it is the biggest lake that is located fully inside Canada. Also located in this region of Canada’s boreal forest is the Great Bear Lake. But bears aren’t to blame for the lake’s moniker. The term “student” in the Chipewyan language means “grizzly bear water people,” which is where the name originated. It’s ironic that the lake gave the Sahtu Dene their name. The Chipewyan word for “huge bear hill” (grizzly bear mountain) is another place name you could hear around the lake. The lake’s clarity is another unique aspect.
10. Lake Huron, to put it simply
The initial glimpse of this lake is quite breathtaking. With a surface size of 23,007 square miles, this lake hardly seems like a lake. One of the Great Lakes of North America, notwithstanding. On the other hand, Michigan claims 9,103 square miles of Lake Huron, while Ontario claims 13,904 square miles. It’s one of the world’s biggest freshwater lakes, in fact. Strange as it may seem, many individuals call the shores of Lake Huron home. More than 10,000 individuals call Sarnia, Ontario, home.
Conclusion
There are so many lakes around Canada that ranking them would be an impossible task. The Biggest Lakes in Canada, though, stand out more clearly. Obviously, there’s more to these lakes than just their massive dimensions. Natural features like these lakes often serve important functions in their communities. True particularly of lakes filled with fresh water. Canada’s lakes are both stunning and enormous.