Shuswap Lake

Infobox lake
lake_name = Shuswap Lake
image_lake = CopperIsland.jpg
caption_lake = Copper Island as seen from a beach in Shuswap Lake Provincial Park
image_bathymetry = ShuswapArms.png caption_bathymetry = The three arms of Shuswap Lake
location = south-central British Columbia
coords = coord|51|00|N|119|00|W|region:CA-BC_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type =
inflow =
outflow = Little River
catchment =
basin_countries = Canada
length =
width =
area =
depth =
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation =
islands =
cities = "(see article)"

Shuswap Lake is a lake located in south-central British Columbia, Canada that drains via the Little River and Little Shuswap Lake into the South Thompson River, a branch of the Thompson River, a tributary of the Fraser River. it is the namesake and at the heart of a region known as the Shuswap Country or "the Shuswap", noted for its recreational lakeshore communities including the city of Salmon Arm. The name "Shuswap" is derived from the Shuswap or Secwepemc First Nations people, the most northern of the Interior Salish peoples, whose territory includes the Shuswap.

Geography

Shuswap Lake consists of four arms, forming a shape similar to the letter H. The four arms are called Salmon Arm (southwest), Anstey Arm (northeast), Seymour Arm (north), and the main lake (west). Shuswap Lake connects to Little Shuswap Lake in the west via the Little River (aka the Little Shuswap River).

To the north-west it is fed by the Adams River, which drains Adams Lake. Shuswap Lake connects to Mara Lake at the Sicamous Channel. The Shuswap River connects via Mara Lake from Mabel Lake in the east and, above it and via the Cherryville area and Sugar Lake and the Shuswap River's headwaters on the farther side of the Sawtooth Range. In the south-west the Salmon River flows into the lake at Salmon Arm. The Eagle River runs down from the Eagle Pass in the Monashees, along the route of the Trans-Canada Highway to enter the lake at Sicamous, in the east. The Seymour River empties into the northern end of the Seymour Arm. In addition to these rivers, numerous creeks feed the lake, including Scotch Creek, which runs south to the north shore of the main arm, near the community of the same name.

Provincial parks around Shuswap Lake

Several parks are located on the shores of Shuswap Lake, including:
* Shuswap Lake Provincial Park
* Shuswap Lake Marine Provincial Park
* Silver Beach Provincial Park
* Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park (home of the Adams River Sockeye Run)
* Cinnemousun Narrows Provincial Park (located at the center of the H)

Communities

Communities bordering the Shuswap Lakes include:
* Salmon Arm
* Celista
* Eagle Bay
* Scotch Creek
* Sorrento
* Blind Bay
* Tappen
* Anglemont
* Magna Bay
* Chase
* St. Ives
* SunnyBrae
* Canoe
* Sicamous
* Seymour Arm

References

*BCGNIS|19480|Shuswap Lake