Coordinates: 52°7′N 97°15′W

Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg (French: Lac Winnipeg, Ojibwe: ᐑᓂᐸᑲᒥᐠᓴᑯ ˙ ᑯᐣ,
romanized:  Weenipagamiksaguygun) is a very large, relatively shallow
Lake Winnipeg
24,514-square-kilometre (9,465  sq  mi) lake in North America, in the lac Winnipeg

province of Manitoba, Canada. Its southern end is about 55 kilometres ᐑᓂᐸᑲᒥᐠᓴᑯ˙ᑯᐣ Weenipagamiksaguygun
(34 mi) north of the city of Winnipeg. Lake Winnipeg is Canada's sixth-
largest freshwater lake[3] and the third-largest freshwater lake contained
entirely within Canada, but it is relatively shallow (mean depth of
12 m [39 ft])[4] excluding a narrow 36 m (118 ft) deep channel between
the northern and southern basins. It is the eleventh-largest freshwater
lake on Earth. The lake's east side has pristine boreal forests and rivers
that were in 2018 inscribed as Pimachiowin Aki, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. The lake is 416  km (258  mi) from north to south, with
remote sandy beaches, large limestone cliffs, and many bat caves in
some areas. Manitoba Hydro uses the lake as one of the largest
reservoirs in the world. There are many islands, most of them
undeveloped. Lake
Winnipeg
The Sagkeeng First Nation holds a reserve on Turtle Island, in the
southern part of the lake. The Anishinaabe people have been in this area
for hundreds of years, as have European settlers.

Contents
Hydrography
Tributaries
Geology
Natural history
Fish
Birds
Protected areas
Environmental issues
History
Economy Map
Transportation Location Manitoba, Canada
Communities Coordinates 52°7′N 97°15′W
Commercial fisheries Lake type Glacial
See also Primary inflows Winnipeg River,
Citations Saskatchewan River,
General and cited references Red River

External links Primary Nelson River

outflows
Catchment area 982,900 km2
Hydrography (379,500 sq mi)
Basin countries Canada and the
Lake Winnipeg has the largest watershed of any lake in Canada,
United States
receiving water from four U.S. states: (North Dakota and Minnesota via
tributaries of the Red River, South Dakota via rivers draining into Lake Max. length 416 km (258 mi)
Traverse, and Montana via tributaries of the Oldman River) and four
Max. width 100 km (60 mi) (N
Canadian provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Manitoba).[5]
Basin)

 The lake's watershed measures about 40 km (20 mi) (S

982,900 square kilometres Basin)
(379,500  sq  mi).[6] Its drainage is Surface area 24,514 km2
about 40 times larger than its
(9,465 sq mi)
surface, a ratio bigger than any other
large lake in the world. Average depth 12 m (39 ft)
Max. depth 36 m (118 ft)
Lake Winnipeg drains northward
into the Nelson River at an average Water volume 284 km3 (68 cu mi)[1]
annual rate of 2,066 cubic metres Residence time 3.5 years [2]
per second (72,960  cu  ft/s) and
Shore length1 1,858 km (1,155 mi)
forms part of the Hudson Bay
watershed, which is one of the Surface 217 m (712 ft)
largest drainage basins in the world. elevation
This watershed area was known as
Settlements Gimli, Manitoba
Rupert's Land when the Hudson's
NASA false-colour image of Lake 1
Bay Company was chartered in 1670. Shore length is not a well-defined measure.
Winnipeg

Tributaries

The Saskatchewan River flows in from the west through Cedar Lake, the Red
River (including Assiniboine River) flows in from the south, and the
Winnipeg River (draining Lake of the Woods, Rainy River and Rainy Lake)
enters from the southeast. The Dauphin River enters from the west, draining
Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipegosis. The Bloodvein River, Berens River,
Poplar River and the Manigotagan River flow in from the eastern side of the
lake which is within the Canadian Shield.

Nelson River drainage basin Other tributaries of Lake Winnipeg (clockwise from the south end) include;
Meleb Drain (drainage canal), Drunken River, Icelandic River, Washow Bay
Creek, Sugar Creek, Beaver Creek, Mill Creek, Moose Creek, Fisher River,
Jackhead River, Kinwow Bay Creek, Jackpine Creek, Mantagao River, Solomons Creek, Jumping Creek, Warpath
River, South Two Rivers, North Two Rivers, South Twin Creek, North Twin Creek, Saskachaywiak Creek, Eating
Point Creek, Woody Point Creeks, Muskwa Creek, Buffalo Creek, Fiddler Creek, Sturgeon Creek, Hungry River,
Cypress Creek, William River, Bélanger River, Mukutawa River, Crane Creek, Kapawekapuk Creek, Marchand
Creek, Leaf River, Pigeon River, Taskapekawe Creek, Bradbury River, Petopeko Creek, Loon Creek, Sanders
Creek, Rice River, Wanipigow River, Barrie Creek, Mutch Creek, Sandy River, Black River, Sandy Creek, Catfish
Creek, Jackfish Creek, Marais Creek, Brokenhead River and Devils Creek.[7][8]

Geology
Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba are remnants of prehistoric Glacial Lake Agassiz, although there is evidence
of a desiccated south basin of Lake Winnipeg approximately 4,000 years ago. The area between the lakes is
called the Interlake Region, and the whole region is called the Manitoba Lowlands.

Natural history

Fish

The varying habitats found within the lake support a large number of fish species, more than any other lake in
Canada west of the Great Lakes.[5] Sixty of seventy-nine native species found in Manitoba are present in the
lake.[9] Families represented include lampreys (Petromyzontidae), sturgeon (Acipenseridae), mooneyes
(Hiodontidae), minnows (Cyprinidae), suckers (Catostomidae), catfish (Ictaluridae), pike (Esocidae), trout and
whitefish (Salmonidae), troutperch (Percopsidae), codfish (Gadidae), sticklebacks (Gasterosteidae), sculpins
(Cottidae), sunfish (Centrarchidae), perch (Percidae), and drum (Sciaenidae).[9]

Two fish species present in the lake are considered to be at risk, the shortjaw cisco and the bigmouth
buffalo.[10][11]
Rainbow trout and brown trout are stocked in Manitoba waters by provincial fisheries as part of a put and take
program to support angling opportunities. Neither species is able to sustain itself independently in Manitoba.[12]
Smallmouth bass was first recorded from the lake in 2002, indicating populations introduced elsewhere in the
watershed are now present in the lake.[13]
White bass were first recorded from the lake in 1963, ten years after
being introduced into Lake Ashtabula in North Dakota.[14]
Common carp were introduced to the lake through
the Red River of the North and are firmly established.[15]

Birds

Lake Winnipeg provides feeding and nesting sites for a wide variety of birds associated with water during the
summer months.

Isolated, uninhabited islands provide nesting sites for colonial nesting birds
including pelicans, gulls and terns. Large marshes, shores and shallows allow
these birds to successfully feed themselves and their young. Pipestone Rocks
are considered a globally significant site for American white pelicans. In
1998, an estimated 3.7% of the world's population of this bird at the time
were counted nesting on the rocky outcrops.[16] The same site is significant
within North America for the numbers of colonial waterbirds using the area,
especially Common terns.[16] Other globally significant nesting areas are
found at Gull Island and Sandhill Island,[17] Little George Island[18] and
Louis Island.[19] Birds nesting at these sites include Common and Caspian American White Pelicans loaf near
terns, Herring gull, Ring-billed gull, Double-crested cormorant and Greater shore, Hecla-Grindstone Provincial
scaup. Park

Lake Winnipeg has two sites considered globally important in the fall
migration. Large populations of waterfowl and shorebirds use the sand bars east of Riverton as a staging area for
fall migration.[20] The Netley-Libau Marsh, where the Red River enters Lake Winnipeg, is used by geese, ducks
and swallows to gather for the southward migration.[21]

Piping Plovers, an endangered species of shorebird, are found in several locations around the lake. The Gull Bay
Spits, south of the town of Grand Rapids are considered nationally significant nesting sites for this species.[22]

Protected areas
Beaver Creek Provincial Park
Camp Morton Provincial Park
Elk Island Provincial Park
Fisher Bay Provincial Park
Grand Beach Provincial Park
Hecla-Grindstone Provincial Park
Hnausa Beach Provincial Park
Kinwow Provincial Park
Patricia Beach Provincial Park
Sturgeon Bay Provincial Park
Winnipeg Beach Provincial Park

Environmental issues

Lake Winnipeg is suffering from many environmental issues such as an explosion in the population of algae,
caused by excessive amounts of phosphorus seeping into the lake, therefore not absorbing enough
nitrogen.[23][24] The phosphorus levels are approaching a point that could be dangerous for human health.[25]

The Global Nature Fund declared Lake Winnipeg as the "threatened lake of the year" in 2013.[26]

In 2015, there was a major uptick of zebra mussels in Lake Winnipeg, the reduction of which is next to
impossible because of a lack of natural predators in the lake. The mussels are devastating to the ecological
opportunities of the lake.[27]
History
It is believed Henry Kelsey was the first European to see the lake, in 1690. He adopted the Cree language name
for the lake: wīnipēk (ᐐᓂᐯᐠ), meaning "muddy waters". La Vérendrye referred to the lake as Ouinipigon when
he built the first forts in the area in the 1730s. Later, the Red River Colony to its south took the lake's name for
Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba.

Lake Winnipeg lies along one of the oldest trading routes in North America to have flown the British flag. For
several centuries, furs were traded along this route between York Factory on Hudson Bay[28] (which was the
long-time headquarters for the Hudson's Bay Company) over Lake Winnipeg and the Red River Trails to the
confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers at Saint Paul, Minnesota. This was a strategic trading route
for the First British Empire. With the establishment of the Second British Empire after Britain's loss of the
Thirteen Colonies, a significant increase in trade occurred over Lake Winnipeg between Rupert's Land and the
United States.

Economy

Transportation

Because of its length, the Lake Winnipeg water system and the lake was an important transportation route in the
province before the railways reached Manitoba. It continued to be a major transportation route even after the
railways reached the province. In addition to aboriginal canoes and York boats, several steamboats plied the lake,
including Anson Northup, City of Selkirk, Colvile, Keenora, Premier, Princess, Winnitoba, Wolverine and most
recently the diesel-powered MS Lord Selkirk II passenger cruise ship.

Communities

Communities on the lake include Grand Marais, Lester Beach, Riverton, Gimli, Winnipeg Beach, Victoria Beach,
Hillside beach, Pine Falls, Manigotagan, Berens River, Bloodvein, Sandy Hook, Albert Beach, Hecla Village and
Grand Rapids. A number of pleasure beaches are found on the southern end of the lake, which are popular in the
summer, attracting many visitors from Winnipeg, about 80 km south.

Gimli on Lake Winnipeg.

Commercial fisheries

Lake Winnipeg has important commercial fisheries. Its catch makes up a major part of Manitoba's $30 million
per year fishing industry.[29] The lake was once the main source of goldeye in Canada, which is why the fish is
sometimes called Winnipeg goldeye. Walleye and whitefish together account for over 90 percent of its
commercial fishing.[30]

See also
List of lakes of Manitoba

Citations
 1. "Lake Winnipeg Quick Facts" (https://web.archive.org/web/20180311104704/http://www.gov.mb.ca/waterstew
ardship/water_quality/lake_winnipeg/facts.html). Archived from the original (https://www.gov.mb.ca/waterstew
ardship/water_quality/lake_winnipeg/facts.html) on 11 March 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
2. Massive flood expected to take toll on Lake Winnipeg, feed algae blooms (http://www.winnipegfreepress.co
m/local/breakingnews/124536339.html) Winnipeg Free Press
3. "Great Canadian Lakes" (https://web.archive.org/web/20070124111150/http://www.greatcanadianlakes.com/g
c_lakes/Canada/index.htm). Archived from the original (http://www.greatcanadianlakes.com/gc_lakes/Canad
a/index.htm) on 24 January 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2007.
4. International Lake Environment Committee (http://www.ilec.or.jp/database/nam/nam-08.html) Archived (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20070210173421/http://www.ilec.or.jp/database/nam/nam-08.html) 10 February
2007 at the Wayback Machine,
5. Stewart, Kenneth W.; Watkinson, Douglas A. (2004). The freshwater fishes of Manitoba. Manitoba: Univ. of
Manitoba Press, CN. pp. 10–11. ISBN 0887556787.
6. "Canada Drainage Basins" (http://geogratis.gc.ca/api/en/nrcan-rncan/ess-sst/7b309ad9-9398-51d4-89d2-32b
3871ec3ab.html). The National Atlas of Canada, 5th edition. Natural Resources Canada. 1985. Retrieved
12 November 2014.
7. "Natural Resources Canada-Canadian Geographical Names (Lake Winnipeg)" (http://www4.rncan.gc.ca/sear
ch-place-names/unique/GBEIS). Retrieved 28 December 2014.
8. "Atlas of Canada Toporama" (http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/toporama/index.html). Retrieved
28 December 2014.
9. Stewart, Kenneth W.; Watkinson, Douglas A. (2004). The freshwater fishes of Manitoba. Manitoba: Univ. of
Manitoba Press, CN. pp. 249–257. ISBN 0887556787.
10. "COSEWIC Assessment and Update Status Report on the Shortjaw Cisco (Coregonus zenithicus) in Canada
– 2009" (http://www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=0379EBFF-
1&offset=1&toc=show). Species at Risk Public Registry. Government of Canada, Environment. Retrieved
24 September 2017.
11. "COSEWIC Assessment and Update Status Report on the Bigmouth Buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus) in Canada
– 2009" (http://www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=2CD0DE36-1). Species at Risk
Public Registry. Government of Canada, Environment. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
12. Stewart, Kenneth W.; Watkinson, Douglas A. (2004). The freshwater fishes of Manitoba. Manitoba: Univ. of
Manitoba Press, CN. pp. 169–174. ISBN 0887556787.
13. Stewart, Kenneth W.; Watkinson, Douglas A. (2004). The freshwater fishes of Manitoba. Manitoba: Univ. of
Manitoba Press, CN. pp. 221–222. ISBN 0887556787.
14. Stewart, Kenneth W.; Watkinson, Douglas A. (2004). The freshwater fishes of Manitoba. Manitoba: Univ. of
Manitoba Press, CN. pp. 208–209. ISBN 0887556787.
15. Stewart, Kenneth W.; Watkinson, Douglas A. (2004). The freshwater fishes of Manitoba. Manitoba: Univ. of
Manitoba Press, CN. p. 22. ISBN 0887556787.
16. "Pipestone Rocks" (http://www.ibacanada.com/site.jsp?siteID=MB012). Important Bird Areas Canada. Bird
Studies Canada and Nature Canada. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
17. "Gull and Sandhill Island" (http://www.ibacanada.com/site.jsp?siteID=MB004). Important Bird Areas Canada.
Bird Studies Canada and Nature Canada. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
18. "Little George Island" (http://www.ibacanada.com/site.jsp?siteID=MB062). Important Bird Areas Canada. Bird
Studies Canada and Nature Canada. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
19. "Louis Island and Associated Reefs" (http://www.ibacanada.com/site.jsp?siteID=MB086). Important Bird
Areas Canada. Bird Studies Canada and Nature Canada. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
20. "Riverton Sandy Bar" (http://www.ibacanada.com/site.jsp?siteID=MB091). Important Bird Areas Canada. Bird
Studies Canada and Nature Canada. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
21. "Netley-Libau Marsh" (http://www.ibacanada.com/site.jsp?siteID=MB009). Important Bird Areas Canada. Bird
Studies Canada and Nature Canada. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
22. "Gull Bay Spits" (http://www.ibacanada.com/site.jsp?siteID=MB053). Important Bird Areas Canada. Bird
Studies Canada and Nature Canada. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
23. $1.1M for Lake Winnipeg - Winnipeg Free Press (http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/11m-for-lake-winni
peg-49170002.html)
24. Canada’s sickest lake (http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/08/20/canada%e2%80%99s-sickest-lake) Archived (ht
tps://web.archive.org/web/20090828031757/http://www2.macleans.ca/2009/08/20/canada%E2%80%99s-sic
kest-lake/) 28 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine, MacLean's Magazine
25. "Lake Winnipeg at 'tipping point': report" (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2011/05/31/mb-lake
-winnipeg-phosporus-crisis.html). CBC News. 31 May 2011.
26. "Lake Winnipeg declared threatened lake of the year" (http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/lake-winnipeg
-declared-threatened-lake-of-year-189778541.html). Winnipeg Free Press. 5 February 2013.
27. Lake Winnipeg a lost cause - CBC Online (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/lake-winnipeg-zebra-m
ussels-lost-cause-eva-pip-1.3264283)
28. Fur Trade Canoe Routes of Canada/ Then and Now by Eric W. Morse Canada National and Historic Parks
Branch, first printing 1969.
29. "Manitoba Water Stewardship - Fisheries" (https://web.archive.org/web/20060925040430/http://www.gov.mb.
ca/conservation/fish/). Archived from the original (https://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/fish/) on 25 September
2006. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
30. "A profile of Manitoba's commercial fishery" (https://www.gov.mb.ca/waterstewardship/fisheries/commercial/hi
story.pdf) (PDF). Manitoba Water Stewardship (Department, Government of Manitoba). 14 May 2010.
Retrieved 29 July 2011.

General and cited references

Canadian Action Party (2006). Canadian action party release Devils Lake ruling (http://www.canadianactionp
arty.ca/cgi/page.cgi?aid=374&_id=128&zine=show)
Casey, A. (November/December 2006). "Forgotten lake", Canadian Geographic, Vol. 126, Issue 6, pp. 62–78
Chliboyko, J. (November/December 2003). "Trouble flows north", Canadian Geographic, Vol. 123, Issue 6,
p. 23
"Devil down south" (16 July 2005), The Economist, Vol. 376, Issue 8435,. p. 34
GreenPeace, "Algae bloom on Lake Winnipeg (https://web.archive.org/web/20100219002054/http://blogs.gre
enpeace.ca/wp-content/photos/algae_bloom_on_Lake_Winnipeg.jpg)" (26 May 2008). Retrieved 2 February
2009
Daily Commercial News and Construction Record, "Ottawa asked to help block water diversion project:
Devils Lake outlet recommended by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers" (20 October 2003), Vol. 76, Issue 198,.
p. 3
Sexton, B. (2006) "Wastes control: Manitoba demands more scrutiny of North Dakota’s water diversion
scheme", Outdoor Canada, Vol. 34, Issue 1, p. 32
Warrington, Dr. P. (6 November 2001) "Aquatic pathogens: cyanophytes (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wat/wq/ref
erence/cyanophytes.html) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20170118102301/http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/
wat/wq/reference/cyanophytes.html) 18 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine"
Welch, M. A. (19 August 2008) "Winnipeg’s algae invasion was forewarned more than 30 years ago", The
Canadian Press
Macleans (14 June 2004) "What ails Lake Winnipeg" Vol. 117, Issue 24, p. 38.
Wilderness Committee (2008) "Turning the tide on Lake Winnipeg and our health (http://www.wildernesscom
mittee.org/campaigns/communities/toxins/reports/Vol27No01/images/01_slimy_wave.jpg)"
Canadian Geographical Names Database (2016) "Place names - Weenipagamiksaguygun (http://www4.nrca
n.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/GBXYL)"

External links
"Lake Winnipeg" (https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/lake-winnipeg/). The Canadian
Encyclopedia
Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium (http://www.lakewinnipegresearch.org)
Manitoba Water Stewardship - Lake Winnipeg (https://web.archive.org/web/20180411094751/http://www.gov.
mb.ca/waterstewardship/water_quality/lake_winnipeg/index.html)
Satellite images of Lake Winnipeg (http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~gmccullo/LWsat.htm)
Sail Lake Winnipeg (http://www.saillakewinnipeg.com) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/201206282147
29/http://www.saillakewinnipeg.com/) 28 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine

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