Lake Winnipegosis

Lake Winnipegosis is a body of water located in the province of Manitoba in Canada. The eleventh largest lake in Canada, Lake Winnipegosis is connected by rivers to Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg. It has an irregular curved shape but reaches approximately 120 miles (193 kilometers) in length and has a maximum width of about 30 miles (48 kilometers). The name “Winnipegosis” derives from First Nations Cree words meaning “little muddy waters.” A popular destination for hikers, campers, fishers, and hunters, Lake Winnipegosis’s most famous resident is a rumored sea monster known as Winnipogo.

Background

Lake Winnipegosis is located in the Canadian province of Manitoba, which is situated near the center of the country between Saskatchewan to the west and Ontario to the east. Its southern border touches the United States, specifically the states of North Dakota and Minnesota. Manitoba is approximately equidistant from the Pacific and Atlantic coasts in a region known as the Canadian Prairie Provinces.

The land in the region is largely flat, being part of the prairie environment of the Saskatchewan Plain in the south and northern lowland basins in the north. Some of the northern and eastern areas are rockier, being part of the Canadian Shield geological formation, which covers approximately 60 percent of the province.

In the flatter and more temperate southern regions, rich black soil encourages a range of plant life. Grassy plains dominate many areas, and agriculture is a major industry there. Areas that have not been developed or prepared for farming are mostly forested; forests occupy approximately 40 percent of Manitoba. These forested areas include valleys, plateaus, plains, and swamps, making Manitoba a paradise for nature lovers.

Despite the commonality of plains, farms, and forests, Manitoba may be best known for its waterways. In ancient times, glaciers covered much of the province. Remnants of these glaciers and the bodies of water they created remain today in the form of some one hundred thousand lakes. The largest of these lakes, and one of the largest in the world, is Lake Winnipeg. This lake shares its name with Winnipeg, the capital and largest city of Manitoba.

Manitoba does not only have lakes. It also has many rivers that drain, feed, and connect the lakes. Some of these include the Red River and Assiniboine River. The huge amount of rushing water in the region has traditionally led to widespread flooding, covering massive flat floodplains in many parts of the province. In modern times, humans have tried to curb this potentially destructive process with various precautionary measures.

Overview

Lake Winnipegosis is the eleventh-largest lake in Canada, reaching about 120 miles (193 kilometers) in length and filling some 2,073 square miles (5,370 square kilometers). It has an irregular shape, curving and with islands and inlets, reaching a maximum width of about 30 miles (48 kilometers). Its name comes from the existing place name “Winnipeg,” which is a First Nations Cree term meaning “muddy waters” or “murky waters,” plus the diminutive “osis,” which means “little” or “smaller.” These waters reach a maximum depth of about 39 feet (12 meters).

Waters from western Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan flow east into Lake Winnipegosis, mainly by way of the Manitoba Escarpment. (An escarpment is a long slope that separates lands of different altitudes.) In this case, the Manitoba Escarpment includes such mountains as Duck and Riding, as well as the Pasquia and Porcupine Hills. Waters from those landforms flow mainly via the Red Deer, Woody, and Swan Rivers. After the water fills Lake Winnipegosis, it moves out of the lake, mainly via the Water Hen River, into Lake Manitoba. From there, the waters flow farther to the east into Lake Winnipeg. These interconnected lakes—Winnipegosis, Manitoba, and Winnipeg—share a common geological ancestor in an ancient glacial lake called Lake Agassiz.

Lake Winnipegosis is popular with visitors, many of whom drive approximately 375 miles (603 kilometers) northwest from Winnipeg to reach it. The lake is expansive by itself, as are its natural surroundings, which cover more than 1.3 million acres. The region is known for its wilderness beauty, with few attempts to develop or otherwise exploit the largely virgin lands. This is partly because the lake, with its many turns and islands, is only navigable by small boats.

Visitors and nearby residents stay in small villages around the lake, such as Winnipegosis Village and Camperville. Some of these people simply enjoy the quiet splendor of nature. Camping is a popular activity, with guests occupying private campsites and beaches. From these spots, visitors may strike out on any number of hikes and enjoy the beautiful bounty of nature.

Many other visitors have a particular outdoor pursuit in mind. The lake itself is a major draw. Many recreational boaters enjoy the lake, often for fishing. In most of the lake, fishing season lasts year-round, and in winter many people take to frozen patches to engage in ice fishing. Recreational fishers may cast their lines for rainbow trout, lake trout, perch, freshwater drum, and northern pike fish. Commercial fishing is also a big business in the area, with some of the main catches including perch, pike, mullet, and walleye. The fish from Lake Winnipegosis and its neighboring lakes provide a major financial boost to the province. However, in the 2010s, controversy arose about overfishing and a lack of sustainable fishing methods in the area. In 2021, the government of Manitoba announced that it would make its progress public regarding the fish populations in Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipegosis, with the goal of restoring the populations to healthy levels.

Wildlife in the region is also a major draw. Many hunters travel to the Lake Winnipegosis area to seek game, including deer, elk, bear, and moose, along with geese and ducks. Many other visitors just seek out wildlife to study or photograph on the many trails around the lake. One animal—or at least a rumored animal—for which Lake Winnipegosis is particularly famous is Winnipogo. According to local legend, Winnipogo is a dinosaur-like sea serpent that inhabits the lake and may be related to Manipogo, a similar creature reputed to lurk in Lake Manitoba.

Bibliography

Esrock, Robin. “Lake Winnipeg.” National Geographic, 2020, www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/canada/lake-winnipeg-manitoba/. Accessed 1 Sept. 2020.

“Lake Winnipegosis, Manitoba, Canada.” Lake Lubbers, 2020, www.lakelubbers.com/lake-winnipegosis-619/. Accessed 1 Sept. 2020.

McGinn, Roderick A. “Lake Winnipegosis.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, 20 Mar. 2014, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/lake-winnipegosis. Accessed 1 Sept. 2020.

McGinn, Roderick A. “Lake Winnipeg.” The Canadian Encyclopedia, 4 Mar. 2015, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/lake-winnipeg. Accessed 1 Sept. 2020.

“Natural Points of Interest.” Travel Manitoba, 2018, www.travelmanitoba.com/things-to-do/all-seasons/natural-points-of-interest/. Accessed 1 Sept. 2020.

Nature Manitoba, 2020, www.naturemanitoba.ca. Accessed 1 Sept. 2020.

“Province Orders Fisheries Review After Manitoba Fish Get ‘Do Not Buy’ Rating.” CBC News, 9 Nov. 2015, www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/seachoice-manitoba-fisheries-1.3310813. Accessed 1 Sept. 2020.

Thompson, Sam. "Province to Take Stock of Fisheries on Lakes Manitoba, Winnipegosis." Global News, 1 Oct. 2021, globalnews.ca/news/8235825/province-to-take-stock-of-fisheries-on-lakes-manitoba-winnipegosis/. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

Welsted, John, John Everitt, and Christoph Stadel (eds.) The Geography of Manitoba: Its Land and Its People. The University of Manitoba Press, 1997.