Lake Manitoba
| Lake Manitoba | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Location | Manitoba |
| Coordinates | 51°00′N 98°50′W / 51.000°N 98.833°WCoordinates: 51°00′N 98°50′W / 51.000°N 98.833°W |
| Primary inflows | Waterhen River Whitemud River |
| Primary outflows | Fairford River |
| Catchment area | 54,630 km2 (21,090 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 200 km (120 mi) |
| Max. width | 45 km (28 mi) |
| Surface area | 4,624 km2 (1,785 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 7 m (23 ft) |
| Water volume | 14.1 km3 (3.4 cu mi) |
| Residence time | North basin: 2 years; South basin: 28 years |
| Surface elevation | 812 ft (247 m) |
| Settlements | Fairford, Steep Rock, St. Laurent, Sandy Bay |
Lake Manitoba is Canada's thirteenth largest lake (4,624 km2) and the world's 33rd largest freshwater lake. It is in central North America, in the Canadian province of Manitoba, which is named after the lake. It is located about 75 km northwest of the province's capital, Winnipeg, at 51°0′N 98°45′W / 51.000°N 98.750°W.
The lake, its shores populated by the Assiniboine and Cree, was made known to Europeans by La Vérendrye in the mid-1730s. He and his sons travelled from Fort La Reine through this lake to explore the Saskatchewan River and its environs. Forts were established on both the Saskatchewan and Cedar Lake. It also was part of the route of the fur trade to Hudson Bay.
The name derives from Cree manitou-wapow or Ojibwa manidoobaa, both meaning "straits of Manitou, the Great Spirit", a toponym referring to what are now called The Narrows in the centre of the lake. These narrows were an area that the spirit could be heard. What exactly was heard, and in what exact location, seems to be a mystery. The lake was known to French explorers as Lac des Prairies.
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Wikipedia