Pavilion Lake

Infobox lake
lake_name = Pavilion Lake
image_lake =
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry=
location = British Columbia
coords = coord|display=inline,title|50.86677|-121.74191|type:waterbody_region:CA-BC
type =
inflow =
outflow = Pavilion Creek
catchment =
basin_countries = Canada
length = km to mi|5.8
width = km to mi|0.8|precision=1
area =
depth =
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = m to ft|820
islands =
cities =
frozen =

Pavilion Lake is a lake in Marble Canyon, British Columbia, Canada. It is located between the towns of Lillooet and Cache Creek (18.3 miles WNW, as the crow flies, from Cache Creek) and lies along BC Highway 99, five and a half highway miles (northeast then southeast) from Pavilion, British Columbia. Part of a karst formation, the lake is most notable for being home to colonies of microbialites, a type of stromatolite, otherwise known as "freshwater coral", and has become the subject of astrobiology research by NASA. The lake area and its foreshore were added to Marble Canyon Provincial Park in order to protect its special scientific and heritage values.

There is a small community of lakeshore residences, some recreational and seasonal only, located on the lake's eastern shore adjacent to the highway. The lake is overlooked by the cliffs of Marble Canyon, which is the southern buttress of the Marble Range, and the forests of the northernmost Clear Range. Also overlooking the lake is Chimney Rock ("K'lpalekw" in Secwepemc'tsn, "Coyote's Penis"), which like the lake and the canyon have spiritual significance to the adjoining native communities, the Tskwaylaxw people of Pavilion and the Bonaparte band of Secwepemc at Upper Hat Creek, whose rancherie is located at Marble Canyon's south entrance.

ee also

*Pavilion Indian Band (Tskwalaxw First Nation)
*Marble Canyon
*Fraser Canyon
*Fountain, British Columbia

External links

* [http://supercritical.civil.ubc.ca/~pavilion/index.php Pavilion Lake Research Project] , UBC
* [http://www.ensc.sfu.ca/research/url/pav/picture.htm map and pictures] from SFU site
* [http://www.ensc.sfu.ca/research/url/pav/index.html description of site] from SFU website
* [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v407/n6804/fig_tab/407626a0_F1.html Location map and images from "Nature" magazine]
* [http://www.astrobio.net/news/article113.html Article in "Astrobiology Magazine"]

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