Okanagan Lake ( oka, kɬúsx̌nítkw) is a
lake
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...
in the
Okanagan Valley
The Okanagan ( ), also known as the Okanagan Valley and sometimes as the Okanagan Country, is a region in the Canadian province of British Columbia defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. It is p ...
of
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
, Canada. The lake is long, between wide, and has a surface area of 348 km
2 (135 sq. mi.).
Hydrography
Okanagan Lake is called a
fjord lake
In physical geography, a fjord or fiord () is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by a glacier. Fjords exist on the coasts of Alaska, Antarctica, British Columbia, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Icela ...
as it has been carved out by repeated glaciations. Although the lake contains numerous
lacustrine terraces, it is not uncommon for the lake to be deep only offshore.
Major inflows include
Mission
Mission (from Latin ''missio'' "the act of sending out") may refer to:
Organised activities Religion
*Christian mission, an organized effort to spread Christianity
*Mission (LDS Church), an administrative area of The Church of Jesus Christ of ...
, Vernon, Trout, Penticton, Equesis, Kelowna, Peachland and Powers Creeks.
The lake is drained by the
Okanagan River
The Okanogan River (known as the Okanagan River in Canada) is a tributary of the Columbia River, approximately 115 mi (185 km) long, in southern British Columbia and north central Washington. It drains a scenic plateau region called th ...
, which exits the lake's south end via a canal through the city of
Penticton
Penticton ( ) is a city in the Okanagan Valley of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada, situated between Okanagan and Skaha lakes. In the 2016 Canadian Census, its population was 33,761, while its census agglomeration
The ce ...
to
Skaha Lake, whence the river continues southwards into the rest of the South Okanagan and through
Okanogan County, Washington to its confluence with the
Columbia.
The lake's maximum depth is near
Grant Island (Nahun Weenox). There are three other islands: one known as
Rattlesnake Island, much farther south by Squally Point. The other two are near Grant Island. They are unnamed and are located just north of the north-point of Whisky Cove at Carrs Landing. Some areas of the lake have up to of glacial and post-glacial sediment fill which were deposited during the
Pleistocene Epoch.
Notable features of the
Okanagan Valley
The Okanagan ( ), also known as the Okanagan Valley and sometimes as the Okanagan Country, is a region in the Canadian province of British Columbia defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. It is p ...
include terraces which were formed due to the periodic lowering of the lake's predecessor, glacial
Lake Penticton
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much larger ...
. These terraces are now used extensively for agriculture such as fruit cultivation.
Geographical context
Cities bordering the lake include
Vernon in the north,
Penticton
Penticton ( ) is a city in the Okanagan Valley of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada, situated between Okanagan and Skaha lakes. In the 2016 Canadian Census, its population was 33,761, while its census agglomeration
The ce ...
in the south, and
Kelowna, as well as the municipalities of
Lake Country (north of Kelowna),
West Kelowna (west of Kelowna),
Peachland
Peachland is a district municipality in the Okanagan Valley on the west side of Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1899 by John Moore Robinson, although the region had long been home to the Okanagan people. Peachland ...
(south of West Kelowna), and
Summerland (north-west of Penticton). Unincorporated communities include
Naramata (north-east of Penticton).
Various lake features include
Rattlesnake Island (a small island east of
Peachland
Peachland is a district municipality in the Okanagan Valley on the west side of Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1899 by John Moore Robinson, although the region had long been home to the Okanagan people. Peachland ...
), Squally Point (a popular
cliff-diving area) &
Fintry Delta
Fintry is a small community in British Columbia, Canada. It lies on the west shore of Okanagan Lake, north of the city of Kelowna, and south of Vernon. It has about 50 homes and is at the bottom of a three kilometre steep windy road off West S ...
on the west side.
The five-lane
William R. Bennett Bridge, a
floating bridge with a
high boat passage arch connects
Kelowna to the city of
West Kelowna and the community of
Westbank. This bridge replaced the three-lane floating
Okanagan Lake Bridge
The Okanagan Lake Bridge (also known as the Kelowna Floating Bridge) was a three-lane, long floating bridge in British Columbia, Canada. It crossed Okanagan Lake, connecting the Westside area to Kelowna on the lake's eastern side. Taller boa ...
on May 30, 2008, which had a lift span for passage of large boats.
Steamboats of Lake Okanagan
During the early days of settlement and development of the
Okanagan
The Okanagan ( ), also known as the Okanagan Valley and sometimes as the Okanagan Country, is a region in the Canadian province of British Columbia defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. It is par ...
region, the lack of roads in the region made the lake a natural corridor for passenger travel and freight. The
Canadian Pacific Railway Lake and River Service was the main carrier on the lakes, providing freight and passenger connections between
Penticton
Penticton ( ) is a city in the Okanagan Valley of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada, situated between Okanagan and Skaha lakes. In the 2016 Canadian Census, its population was 33,761, while its census agglomeration
The ce ...
, on the
Kettle Valley Railway
The Kettle Valley Railway was a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) that operated across southern British Columbia, west of Midway running to Rock Creek, then north to Myra Canyon, down to Penticton over to Princeton, Coalmont, Br ...
(the Southern Mainline) and
Okanagan Landing (
Vernon) for connections to the CPR Mainline at
Sicamous
Sicamous is a district municipality in British Columbia located adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway at the Highway 97A junction, where Mara Lake empties into Shuswap Lake via a short narrows. Sicamous is a resort town about halfway between Calg ...
via the
Shuswap and Okanagan Railway. Smaller vessels such as the
SS ''Naramata'' provided passenger service to smaller settlements around the lake, as well as excursions for tourists.
[Penticton Museum displays, and heritage signs at the Okanagan Lake Heritage Shipyard on Okanagan Beach in Penticton.]
Vessels
* (freight)
* (luxury-class passenger service)
* (luxury-class passenger service)
* (luxury-class passenger service)
* (sternwheeler)
*
SS ''Naramata'' (excursion and water-taxi)
* (''Fintry Queen'', excursion and water-taxi)
* - 1950-1960 (''Bowen Queen'' 1960-1965, MV ''Vesuvius Queen'' 1965-1998)
* (steel ferry)
* (steam tug)
* (steam tug)
* (ferry)
* (ferry)
* (1919 ferry)
* (1923 ferry)
*''
Canadian National Tug no. 6'' (diesel tug)
*''
Canadian National Tug no. 5'' (tug)
*
MV ''Kelowna-Westbank'' (ferry)
* (1912 ferry)
* (1906 ferry)
* (ferry)
* (ferry)
*''
Colleen'' (rowboat)
* (ferry)
* (ferry)
* (ferry)
* (tug)
* (early steamship)
*''
Ruth Shorts'' (rowboat)
* (early steamship)
* (early steamship)
Landings
*
Penticton
Penticton ( ) is a city in the Okanagan Valley of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada, situated between Okanagan and Skaha lakes. In the 2016 Canadian Census, its population was 33,761, while its census agglomeration
The ce ...
*
Naramata
*
Peachland
Peachland is a district municipality in the Okanagan Valley on the west side of Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1899 by John Moore Robinson, although the region had long been home to the Okanagan people. Peachland ...
*
Summerland
*
Okanagan Mission
*
Kelowna
*
Okanagan Landing (
Vernon)
*
Fintry
Fintry is a small riverside village in Stirlingshire, central Scotland.
Landscape
The village of Fintry sits on the strath of the Endrick Water in a valley between the Campsie Fells and the Fintry Hills.
The name Fintry is said to have deri ...
*
Carr's Landing
*
Ewing (Ewing's Landing)
*
Killiney Beach
Recreation
Many parks and beaches are found along the shores of the lake, which make boating and swimming very popular activities.
The lake is home to several species of fish, including
rainbow trout and
kokanee. It is said by some to be home to its own lake monster – a giant serpent-like creature named
Ogopogo
In Canadian folklore, the Ogopogo is a lake monster said to inhabit Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada. Some scholars have charted the entity's development from First Nations folklore and widespread water monster folklore motifs. The O ...
.
Images
File:Maude Roxby Wetlands sunset.jpg, Maude Roxby Wetlands sunset
File:Okanagan Lakeshore at Boyce-Gyro Beach on a Winter Afternoon.webm, Boyce-Gyro Beach on a Winter Afternoon
File:Swimmers in Peachland.jpg, Swimmers in Peachland
File:Half Way Bay on Lake Okanagan during Golden Hour in Winter.webm, Half Way Bay during Golden Hour in Winter
File:Okanagan Lake.jpg, Clouds over Okanagan Lake
See also
*
Okanagan Falls
*
Okanagan people
*
Okanagan Trail
*
List of tributaries of the Columbia River
Tributaries and sub-tributaries are hierarchically listed in order from the mouth of the Columbia River upstream. Major dams and reservoir lakes are also noted.
List of major tributaries
The main river and tributaries are (sorted in order from t ...
*
Skaha Lake
References
External links
Bacon Magazine: The Ogo PogoGallery of Okanagan Lake steamboats*
{{Authority control
Okanagan Lake
Lakes of the Okanagan
Articles containing video clips
Osoyoos Division Yale Land District