Great Bear Lake, 31 328 km2, elevation 156 m, lies astride the Arctic Circle in the northwestern Northwest Territories, about 200 km south of the Arctic Ocean. It is the eighth-largest lake in the world, fourth in North America and the largest lying entirely within Canada.

Lake Athabasca is located in northeastern Alberta and northwestern Saskatchewan, at the edge of the Precambrian Shield. With an area of 7,935 km2 and a 2,140 km shoreline, it is the eighth-largest lake in Canada.

On November 30, 1829, two schooners sailed regally from Port Dalhousie to Port Robinson, Upper Canada, announcing the opening of the Welland Canal and the completion of an engineering marvel.

Air masses from the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic oceans and the Gulf of Mexico converge on the lake, which therefore experiences 4 distinct seasonal patterns and extremes of weather conditions.

Lake Superior is the largest body of fresh water in the world, containing more water than all the other Great Lakes combined. With an area of 82,100 km2 (of which 28,750 km2 lies in Canada), when including the American portion, Lake Superior is Canada’s largest lake.

Great Slave Lake, 28 568 km2, elevation 156 m, fifth-largest lake in North America, tenth in the world, is located in south-central NWT. It was named by Samuel HEARNE after the SLAVEY.

The lake drainage basin measures 58 800 km2 in area, and is home to over 15 million people in Canada and the US, making it the most densely populated of all the Great Lakes basins.

The lake lies in a lowland basin that was scoured out of the limestone and shale bedrock by continental glaciers during the ice ages. When the glaciers finally melted, about 12 000 years ago, a large lake, Glacial Lake AGASSIZ, filled the entire basin.

Lake Ontario occupies a bedrock depression originally produced by stream erosion and later modified by glaciation. Several glacial lakes of varying elevation occupied the basin before the current level and outlet were established about 11 000 years ago.

Reindeer Lake, 6650 km2, elev 337 m, max length 233 km, located on the border between northeastern Saskatchewan and northwestern Manitoba, is the second-largest lake in Saskatchewan and ninth largest in Canada. It has a heavily indented shoreline and contains numerous small islands.

Nettilling Lake, 5542 km2, elevation 30 m, max length 123 km, is located toward the south end of BAFFIN ISLAND in the Great Plain of the Koukdjuak, about 110 km southwest of AUYUITTUQ NATIONAL PARK and 280 km northwest of IQALUIT. The name is of Inuktitut origin but its meaning is unclear.

Winnipegosis, Lake, 5370 km2, 195 km long, elev 254 m, maximum depth 12 m, Canada's eleventh-largest lake, is located in west-central Manitoba.

Later posts were established by the NWC and HBC, but none grew into major settlements. With its limited population, unspoiled environment and abundant fish and wildlife, the area is ideal for outdoor recreation.

Lake Manitoba, 4624 km2, elev 248 m, is one of 3 large lakes occupying the southern half of Manitoba. A narrow, irregular lake, about 200 km long with marshy shores, it is fed mainly from Lake WINNIPEGOSIS, which lies to the northwest, and drains northeast via the Dauphin River to Lake WINNIPEG.

Lake of the Woods, 4350 km2 (of which 3149 km2 are in Canada), elevation 323 m, fed by Rainy River from the south and drained to the northwest by the WINNIPEG RIVER; it is a remnant of former glacial Lake AGASSIZ.

Dubawnt Lake, 3833 km2, elevation 236 m, is situated in the southern part of mainland Nunavut, 350 km south of the Arctic Circle. Within the Precambrian SHIELD, the lake has irregular shorelines and numerous islands.

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