Western Brook Pond

Infobox lake
lake_name = Western Brook Pond
image_lake = 114 1406.jpg
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry=
location = Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador
coords = coord|49|43|57.71|N|57|45|38.26|W|region:CA_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type = Fjord
inflow = Stag Brook
outflow = Western Brook
catchment = convert|171|km2|sqmi|1|lk=on|abbr=on
basin_countries = Canada
length = convert|16|km|mi|abbr=on
width =
area = convert|23|km2|sqmi|1|lk=on|abbr=on
depth = convert|72.5|m|ft|abbr=on
max-depth = convert|165|m|ft|abbr=on
volume =
residence_time = 15.4 years
shore = convert|42.5|km|mi|abbr=on
elevation =
islands =
cities =
frozen =
reference = cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Western Brook Pond
work =
publisher = World Lakes Database
date =
url = http://www.ilec.or.jp/database/nam/nam-31.html
format =
doi =
accessdate =2008-03-05 ]

The Western Brook Pond is a Canadian fjord or lake located in Gros Morne National Park on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland. It is in the Long Range Mountains, the most northern section of the Appalachian Mountains.

It is surrounded by steep rock walls convert|600|m|ft|abbr=on high., having been carved from the surrounding plateau by glaciers. After the glaciers melted, the land rebounded and the fjord was cut off from the sea. Salty water was eventually flushed from the fjord leaving it fresh. The catchment area is composed of igneous rock with relatively thin soil, so the waters feeding Western Brook Pond are low in nutrients and the lake is classified as ultraoligotrophic. It is fed by Stag Brook at the extreme eastern end of the lake and by numerous waterfalls cascading from the plateau above. One of these, Pissing Mare Falls at convert|350|m|ft|abbr=on, is one of the highest in eastern North America.

The lake is accessible by a moderate-easy convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on hiking trail over coastal bogs and low limestone ridges. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Activities in Gros Morne National Park: Hiking
work =
publisher = Parks Canada
date =
url = http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nl/grosmorne/activ/activ2d_E.asp#Q
format =
doi =
accessdate =2008-03-05 ] Two tour boats, one with a capacity of 70 passengers and the other 90 passengers, cruise the lake from June to mid-October. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Activities in Gros Morne National Park: Boat tours
work =
publisher = Parks Canada
date =
url = http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nl/grosmorne/activ/activ2b_E.asp
format =
doi =
accessdate =2008-03-05 ] The lake waters are pristine, having had very little impact from human activities. The tour boat operators had to undergo special certification to ensure that their operations would have minimal impact on the environment. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = International Sightseeing Organization? ISO 14001 Goes on Tour
work =
publisher = QSU publishing
date =
url = http://www.qsuonline.com/Articles/EMRFebruary03/FebCaseStudy.html
format =
doi =
accessdate =2008-03-05 ]

In the early part of the 20th century, a part of the surrounding cliff broke off and fell into the lake, causing a convert|30|m|ft|abbr=on tsunami. [cite web
last = Ruffman
first = Alan
authorlink =
coauthors = P.Geo
title = Atlantic Tsunamis: "Like a River Returning"
work =
publisher = Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
date =
url = http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mma/research/tsunamitalk.html
format =
doi =
accessdate =2008-03-05 ]

References