Lake Anjikuni

Infobox lake
lake_name = Lake Anjikuni
image_lake =
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Northwest Territories
coords = coord|62|12|N|99|59|W|region:CA_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type =
inflow = Kazan River
outflow = Kazan River
catchment =
basin_countries = Canada
length =
width =
area = Convert|510|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on
depth =
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation =
islands =
cities =

Lake Anjikuni , also known as Angikuni Lake [cite web|url=http://www.uphere.ca/node/134|title=Roswell North|last=Freeman|first=Randy|date=2007|publisher=uphere.ca|accessdate=2008-09-21] is a lake located in the Northwest Territories of Canada.

The story

In 1930 a trapper, Joe Labelle, was visiting an Inuit village of approximately 30 people and was surprised to find the community now barren, devoid of any signs of life. Canoes were still on the beach, rifles at doorways, food had been left in pots. One grave was empty. He reported his discovery to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The RCMP conducted a search for the missing people. No one was ever found. This is the story as it appears in Frank Edwards 1966 book, "Stranger than Science"; other versions appear in Whitley Strieber's science fiction novel, "Majestic" (fiction); "The Worlds Greatest UFO Mysteries" (presented as fact) has an even more embellished version, as do other websites and books, complete with mysterious lights in the sky, empty graveyards, and over one thousand people missing.

The earliest version that was found is in the November 29, 1930 Halifax Herald [cite news|title=Tribe Lost in Barrens of North: Village of Dead Found by Wandering Trapper, Joe Labelle|last=Kelleher|first=Emmett E.|date=1930-11-30|publisher=Halifax Herald|accessdate=2008-09-21] , written by a journalist of questionable repute, Emmett E Kelleher. The article contained a "photo" later found to be from 1909 that had nothing at all to do with the story. The story appears to have been forgotten until referenced by Edward's 1966 book.

Analysis

The RCMP has since dismissed the case as an urban legend, claiming (incorrectly) that the story originated in the book "Stranger Than Science" by Frank Edwards. The RCMP also states that "It is also believed that such a large village would never have been possible in such a remote area." (this, despite the fact that the aforementioned book the RCMP is using for reference only cites 30 people, and 1 grave.) [Stranger Than Science, by Frank Edwards, 1968 5th printing, Bantam Books Paperback, page 18-19] The RCMP states that it has no records of any unusual activity in the area. [ [http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/history/anjikuni_e.htm Royal Canadian Mounted Police Historical Notes] ]

Despite the modern RCMP explanation, an older one can be found from 1931, issued by the RCMP itself after an investigation that the modern RCMP does not acknowledge. [The Canadian UFO Report: The Best Cases Revealed By Chris Rutkowski, Geoff Dittman, page 41] [Mysterious Canada, by John Coloumbo] The 1931 RCMP considered the whole story untrue, although later investigations indicate there may have been some structures that were permanently or seasonally abandoned by the occupants, a normal act which could be confusing to those inexperienced to the area and conditions; it was not sudden and nothing of any real value was left behind. The November 1976 issue of Fate Magazine also studied the story to much the same conclusions. [cite journal|date=Nov 1976|title=Vanished Village Revisited|last=Whalen|first=Dwight|journal=Fate Magazine|pages=67-?|url=http://www.fatemagcollector.com/fatethumbpage.pl?year=1976]

References