Lesser Slave Lake
Lesser Slave Lake (French: Petit lac des Esclaves)—known traditionally as "Beaver Lake" (ᐊᒥᐢᐠ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ amisk sâkâhikan in the Plains Cree language, and T’saat’ine migeh in Dene Zhatıé) or "Beaver people were over there, living there" (ᐊᔭᐦᒋᔨᓂᐤ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ ayahciyiniw sâkahikan and T’saatine nda ghe’in’deh)—is located in central Alberta, Canada, northwest of Edmonton. It is the second largest lake entirely within Alberta boundaries (and the largest easily accessible by vehicle), covering 1,160 km2 (450 sq mi) and measuring over 100 km (62 mi) long and 15 km (9.3 mi) at its widest point. Lesser Slave Lake averages 11.4 m (37 ft) in depth and is 20.5 m (67 ft) at its deepest. It drains eastwards into the Athabasca River by way of the Lesser Slave River.
| Lesser Slave Lake | |
|---|---|
| Petit lac des Esclaves (French) "Beaver people were over there, living there" "Beaver Lake" (transl. nêhiyawêwin & Dene Zhatıé) | |
| |
Southeast corner of the lake from Marten Mountain looking south, with Dog Island, Devonshire Beach, and the Town of Slave Lake visible in the distance | |
Lesser Slave Lake | |
| Location | Big Lakes / Lesser Slave River No. 124, Alberta |
| Coordinates | 55°26′26″N 115°29′19″W |
| Type | Eutrophic |
| Primary inflows | South Heart River, Swan River Driftpile River, Assineau River, Marten River |
| Primary outflows | Lesser Slave River |
| Catchment area | 13,900 km2 (5,400 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | +100 km (62 mi) |
| Max. width | 15 km (9.3 mi) |
| Surface area | 1,168 km2 (451 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 11.4 m (37 ft) |
| Max. depth | 20.5 m (67 ft) |
| Water volume | 13.69 km3 (11.10×106 acre⋅ft) |
| Shore length1 | 247 km (153 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 578 m (1,896 ft) |
| Settlements | Slave Lake, High Prairie, Alberta |
| References | |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
The town of Slave Lake is located at the eastern tip of the lake, around the outflow of Lesser Slave River.