Candle Lake (Saskatchewan)
Reservoir in Saskatchewan named for Cree legend of flickering lights.
Candle Lake is a reservoir in central Saskatchewan, located in the boreal forest about 80 km northeast of Prince Albert. Its name derives from a Cree legend of flickering lights near the north end, which have been reported into contemporary times; scientists attribute these lights to swamp gas or phosphorescent glow from decaying driftwood.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Paddockwood No. 520, Saskatchewan
- Agency
- Saskatchewan Water Security Agency
- Inflow
- Fisher Creek
- Clearsand Creek
- Hanin Creek
- Outflow
- Torch River
- Part of
- Saskatchewan River drainage basin
- Countries
- Canada
- Area
- 13,269.3 ha / 51.2 sq mi
- Maximum depth
- 16.8 m / 55 ft 1 in
Facts from the source article.
Parks and recreation
Most of Candle Lake is surrounded by Candle Lake Provincial Park, a popular tourist destination in Western Canada. The shoreline includes several natural sand beaches: Minowukaw Beach, Waskateena Beach, Candle Lake Beach, and Purple Sands Beach. Purple Sands Beach features vibrantly striped bands of purple, magenta, and pink hues, the colour coming from garnet brought from the Canadian Shield by glaciation about 12,000 years ago. Adjacent to Minowukaw Beach are the Minowukaw Sand Dunes. Activities include sport fishing, water sports, camping, golfing, hiking, and boating. Sask Aquatic Adventures operates a water adventure park at Candle Lake Beach on Berezowsky Bay.
Candle Lake Dam
A four-bay, 3.1 m high concrete dam at the south-eastern corner of the lake at Hanson Bay regulates water levels. Built in 1978–1979 and operated by the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority, it discharges into the Torch River. The dam blocked the spring spawning movement of fish between the Torch River and Candle Lake; in 2002 the Minowukaw Fishway was constructed to allow fish passage.
More in Canadian Folklore
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced