Ajawaan Lake
Encyclopedia
Ajawaan Lake is a lake
in the northern boreal forest portion of Prince Albert National Park
, Saskatchewan
, 700 metres from the north end of Kingsmere Lake via a wide portage
trail. It is known mainly as the home of Grey Owl
, famed naturalist, from 1932 to 1938. Access is via a 20 km trail from the Kingsmere River up the west side of Kingsmere Lake, or by canoe
or small boat via the Kingsmere River, Kingsmere River rail push-cart portage and Kingsmere Lake. The lake has native northern pike
and walleye
fish, as well as resident beavers.
The trail to Grey Owl's cabin is 2.75 km around the western edge of the lake. There are two cabins on the north shore, one at the water's edge where beavers had built a lodge partly inside, and a second up the hill behind. The second cabin was built for Grey Owl's wife, Anahereo, who disliked sharing the cabin with beavers. The graves of Grey Owl, his common-law wife Anahereo and daughter Shirley Dawn are west of the upper cabin. There are interpretative signs at the cabin site. Parks Canada has restored the both cabins several times and the beaver lodge in the lower cabin is a partial reconstruction only.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the northern boreal forest portion of Prince Albert National Park
Prince Albert National Park
Prince Albert National Park covers in central Saskatchewan, Canada and is located north of Saskatoon. Though declared a national park March 24, 1927, it had its official opening ceremonies on August 10, 1928 performed by Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King. The park is open all year but...
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
, 700 metres from the north end of Kingsmere Lake via a wide portage
Portage
Portage or portaging refers to the practice of carrying watercraft or cargo over land to avoid river obstacles, or between two bodies of water. A place where this carrying occurs is also called a portage; a person doing the carrying is called a porter.The English word portage is derived from the...
trail. It is known mainly as the home of Grey Owl
Grey Owl
Grey Owl was the name Archibald Belaney adopted when he took on a First Nations identity as an adult...
, famed naturalist, from 1932 to 1938. Access is via a 20 km trail from the Kingsmere River up the west side of Kingsmere Lake, or by canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
or small boat via the Kingsmere River, Kingsmere River rail push-cart portage and Kingsmere Lake. The lake has native northern pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
and walleye
Walleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
fish, as well as resident beavers.
The trail to Grey Owl's cabin is 2.75 km around the western edge of the lake. There are two cabins on the north shore, one at the water's edge where beavers had built a lodge partly inside, and a second up the hill behind. The second cabin was built for Grey Owl's wife, Anahereo, who disliked sharing the cabin with beavers. The graves of Grey Owl, his common-law wife Anahereo and daughter Shirley Dawn are west of the upper cabin. There are interpretative signs at the cabin site. Parks Canada has restored the both cabins several times and the beaver lodge in the lower cabin is a partial reconstruction only.