Lake Banook

Infobox lake
lake_name = Lake Banook
image_lake = 2paddlers.jpg
caption_lake =
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location = Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
coords = coord|44|40|51.2|N|63|33|24.9|W|region:CA_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type =
inflow = Shubenacadie Canal
outflow = Shubenacadie Canal
catchment =
basin_countries = Canada
length =
width =
area =
depth =
max-depth =
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elevation = 20 m
islands =
cities =

Lake Banook is a small freshwater lake located in Dartmouth within the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Located entirely within the community of Dartmouth, Lake Banook is also referred to as 'First Lake' for its position in the Shubenacadie Canal system. The lake is home to a 1 km long flatwater paddling course. Three paddling clubs (Banook, Senobe, Mic Mac AAC), and two rowing clubs (Northstar and Mic Mac AAC) use the course.

Lake Banook's eastern shore is bordered by Prince Albert Road (part of Trunk 7) and its western shore fronts Crichton Park, a residential neighbourhood. At the south end of the lake is a lock mechanism leading to Sullivan's Pond. At the north end of the lake a bridge carries the Highway 111 expressway, informally known as the Dartmouth "Circumferential Highway" over its waters. The bridge also serves as a dividing line between Lake Micmac, also referred to as Second Lake.

* There are two public beaches currently open on Lake Banook: Birch Cove and Lions Beach. Only Birch Cove Beach is currently supervised. A third beach, Graham's Grove, was closed in the early-1990s, as a result of poor water quality stemming from the construction of the nearby "Mic Mac Par-clo" (partial clover-leaf), a large interchange connecting Highway 111, Trunk 7, and Route 318, which replaced the rotary previously on the site.

* Lake Banook has been host to many world-class competitions, including the World Junior Canoe Championships in 1989, the Senior World Championship in 1997, and the World Marathon Championship in 2001.

* The Lake Banook paddling course has been chosen to host 2009 World Senior Canoe Championships.

*In the days before refrigerators, the lake was a source of ice for the residents of both Halifax and Dartmouth.

References

* [http://www.canoe09.ca/ 2009 ICF Flatwater Racing World Championships official website]
* [http://lakes.chebucto.org/WATERSHEDS/SULLIVANSPD/BANOOK/banook.html Soil & Water Conservation Society of Metro Halifax (SWCSMH)]
* [http://shubie.chebucto.org/walk1.htm Shubenacadie Canal]

Canoe Clubs
* [http://www.banookcanoeclub.com/index.htm Banook Canoe Club]
* [http://www.micmacaac.ns.ca/index.html Mic Mac Amateur Aquatic Club]
* [http://www.senobe.com/ Senobe Aquatic Club]