Okanagan Lake
Encyclopedia
Okanagan Lake is a large, deep lake
in the Okanagan Valley
of British Columbia
. The lake is 135 km long, between 4 and 5 km wide, and has a surface area of 351 km². The lake's maximum depth is 232 meters near Grant Island (also called "Whiskey Island" or "Seagull Island" by locals). There is one other island known as Rattlesnake Island
, much farther south by Squally Point. Some areas of the lake have up to 750 meters of glacial and post-glacial sediment fill which were deposited during the Pleistocene Epoch. The lake is composed of three basins, a larger North basin, a central or mid basin, and a Southern basin. The lake is drained by the Okanagan River, which exits the lake's south end in Penticton, after flowing over a small dam. Notable features of the Okanagan Valley include terraces which were formed due to the periodic lowering of the lake's predecessor, glacial Lake Penticton. These terraces are now used extensively for agriculture such as fruit cultivation.
Cities bordering the lake include Vernon
in the north, Penticton in the south, Kelowna
and West Kelowna in the centre, as well as the smaller municipalities of Lake Country
(north of Kelowna), Peachland
(south of West Kelowna), and Summerland
(north-west of Penticton). Various lake features include Rattlesnake Island
(a small island east of Peachland
), Squally Point (a popular cliff-diving area) & Fintry Delta
on the west side. The five-lane William R. Bennett Bridge
, a floating
bridge with a high boat passage arch connects Kelowna
to the district of West Kelowna and the community of Westbank
. This bridge replaced the three-lane floating Okanagan Lake Bridge
on May 30, 2008 which had a lift span for passage of large boats.
Many parks and beaches are found along the shores of the lake, which make boating and swimming very popular activities. The lake is home to several species of fish, including rainbow trout
and kokanee. It is said by some to be home to its own sea monster - a giant serpent-like creature named Ogopogo
.
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 Okanagan Valley
Okanagan
The Okanagan , also known as the Okanagan Valley and sometimes as Okanagan Country is a region located in the Canadian province of British Columbia defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. As of 2009, the region's population is approximately 350,927. The...
of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. The lake is 135 km long, between 4 and 5 km wide, and has a surface area of 351 km². The lake's maximum depth is 232 meters near Grant Island (also called "Whiskey Island" or "Seagull Island" by locals). There is one other island known as Rattlesnake Island
Rattlesnake Island (Okanagan Lake)
Rattlesnake Island is a small island on Okanagan Lake, directly east from Peachland. The land and shore surrounding the island form part of Okanagan Mountain Park...
, much farther south by Squally Point. Some areas of the lake have up to 750 meters of glacial and post-glacial sediment fill which were deposited during the Pleistocene Epoch. The lake is composed of three basins, a larger North basin, a central or mid basin, and a Southern basin. The lake is drained by the Okanagan River, which exits the lake's south end in Penticton, after flowing over a small dam. Notable features of the Okanagan Valley include terraces which were formed due to the periodic lowering of the lake's predecessor, glacial Lake Penticton. These terraces are now used extensively for agriculture such as fruit cultivation.
Cities bordering the lake include Vernon
Vernon, British Columbia
Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 , while...
in the north, Penticton in the south, Kelowna
Kelowna
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...
and West Kelowna in the centre, as well as the smaller municipalities of Lake Country
Lake Country, British Columbia
Lake Country is a District Municipality with a population of approximately 10,000 in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada. The city of Kelowna lies to the south, while the city of Vernon lies to the north. As its name suggests, there are a number of lakes in the vicinity of Lake Country,...
(north of Kelowna), Peachland
Peachland, British Columbia
Peachland is a district municipality of approximately 5000 residents in the Okanagan Valley, on the west side of Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1899 by John Moore Robinson, although the region had long been home to the Okanagan people...
(south of West Kelowna), and Summerland
Summerland, British Columbia
Summerland is a community on the west side of Okanagan Lake in the interior of British Columbia, Canada. The district is between Peachland to the north and Penticton to the south...
(north-west of Penticton). Various lake features include Rattlesnake Island
Rattlesnake Island (Okanagan Lake)
Rattlesnake Island is a small island on Okanagan Lake, directly east from Peachland. The land and shore surrounding the island form part of Okanagan Mountain Park...
(a small island east of Peachland
Peachland, British Columbia
Peachland is a district municipality of approximately 5000 residents in the Okanagan Valley, on the west side of Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1899 by John Moore Robinson, although the region had long been home to the Okanagan people...
), Squally Point (a popular cliff-diving area) & Fintry Delta
Fintry Delta
Fintry Delta is a small community in British Columbia, Canada. It lies on the west side of the Okanagan Lake, 34 km north of the city of Kelowna, and 50 km south of Vernon. It has about 50 homes and is at the bottom of a 3 km, steep windy road off West Side Road...
on the west side. The five-lane William R. Bennett Bridge
William R. Bennett Bridge
The William R. Bennett Bridge is a bridge in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. Completed on May 25, 2008, the bridge replaced the older Okanagan Lake Bridge built in 1958 to link Downtown Kelowna to West Kelowna across Okanagan Lake as part of Highway 97.On April 21, 2005, premier...
, a floating
Pontoon bridge
A pontoon bridge or floating bridge is a bridge that floats on water and in which barge- or boat-like pontoons support the bridge deck and its dynamic loads. While pontoon bridges are usually temporary structures, some are used for long periods of time...
bridge with a high boat passage arch connects Kelowna
Kelowna
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...
to the district of West Kelowna and the community of Westbank
Westbank, British Columbia
Westbank is one of the communities within the district municipality of West Kelowna in the province of British Columbia. It is 12 km to the west of Kelowna. Other communities in West Kelowna include Casa Loma, West Kelowna Estates, Shannon Lake, Smith Creek, Glenrosa, Rose Valley and Lakeview...
. This bridge replaced the three-lane floating Okanagan Lake Bridge
Okanagan Lake Bridge
The Okanagan Lake Bridge was a three-lane, 2,100 foot/650 metre-long floating bridge in British Columbia, Canada. It crossed Okanagan Lake, connecting the Westside area to Kelowna on the lake's eastern side. Taller boats such as sailboats were able to pass under the lift span which was located at...
on May 30, 2008 which had a lift span for passage of large boats.
Rainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
and kokanee. It is said by some to be home to its own sea monster - a giant serpent-like creature named Ogopogo
Ogopogo
Ogopogo or Naitaka is the name given to a cryptid lake monster reported to live in Okanagan Lake, in British Columbia, Canada. Ogopogo has been allegedly seen by First Nations people since the 19th century...
.
See also
- OgopogoOgopogoOgopogo or Naitaka is the name given to a cryptid lake monster reported to live in Okanagan Lake, in British Columbia, Canada. Ogopogo has been allegedly seen by First Nations people since the 19th century...
- OkanaganOkanaganThe Okanagan , also known as the Okanagan Valley and sometimes as Okanagan Country is a region located in the Canadian province of British Columbia defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. As of 2009, the region's population is approximately 350,927. The...
- Okanagan peopleOkanagan peopleThe Okanagan people, also spelled Okanogan, are a First Nations and Native American people whose traditional territory spans the U.S.-Canada boundary in Washington state and British Columbia...
- Okanagan TrailOkanagan TrailThe Okanagan Trail was an inland route to the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush from the Lower Columbia region of the Washington and Oregon Territories in 1858-1859...
- List of tributaries of the Columbia River
- Kelowna HydrofestKelowna HydrofestThe Kelowna Hydrofest is a hydroplane boat race in the H1 Unlimited season. The race is held in August on Okanagan Lake in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. The race is the main attraction of the summer events in British Columbia...
- Skaha LakeSkaha LakeSkaha Lake, historically known as Dog Lake and originally Lac Du Chien, is a freshwater lake located along the course of the Okanagan River in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. It has a surface area of approximately 20 km², with a maximum depth of 55 metres...