Lake Manitoba

The lake Manitoba is a vast lake of approximately 4624 km located in North America, in the Canadian province of the Manitoba and with 75 kilometers in the North-West of the town of Winnipeg, capital of the province. It draws its name from the cry Manitoban-wapow or Ojibwa Manitoban-bah meaning “the strait of Manitoban, the Great mind”, toponym which corresponds to what is nowadays called The Narrows in the center of the lake.

Geography

This lake, narrow (45 km broad) and from very irregular form, extends from north in the south on more than 200 km and is smallest of the three lakes located at the site of the prehistoric glacial lake Agassiz, the two others being the Lac Winnipeg (largest) and the Lac Winnipegosis. It is located at the site of a channel of discharge of the Lac Agassiz and its southernmost fringe corresponds to a line of turn of this one.

It is fed in the North-West by very short rivers (like the river Waterhen coming from the lake of the same name) and by the emissary of the Lac Winnipegosis. The altitude of this one exceeds of 5 meters that of the lake Manitoba, which is thrown, connected by the Dauphin river and the Lac Saint Martin's day, in the Lac Winnipeg.

In its southern part, important gathering place of migratory birds, marshes and sand beaches follow one another on the shore. The lagoons develop on the southernmost coast. In the north of the parallel 51e, its topography changes: on more than 100 km, it is a succession of encumbered tightened arms of small islands, deep bays like Portage Bay, and of almost islands.

In summer, the drainage is badly assured and the surrounding meadow is water mouthful on kilometers broad between this one and the lake Saint Martin's day. In addition, at the time of the great centennial risings, it happens that water of the river Assiniboine, running some 20 kilometers more in the south, flows directly in the lake Manitoba.

The main cities located at the edge of the lake are Fairford, Steep Rock, SAINT LAURENT (Manitoba) and Amaranth.

History

The first to have explored the area of Saskatchewan and its surroundings, is a French Canadian, Pierre Gaultier of Varennes, sior of Vérendrye, born with Three-Rivers. After having discovered the lake Winnipeg in 1733, his/her François son was inserted more in the west and reached in 1738 the lake Manitoba, whose coasts were populated of Cris of Assiniboine, and “Lake of the Meadows baptized it”.

Forts were established at the same time on the Rivière Saskatchewan and the coasts of the Cedar Lake. The lake Manitoba was an important stage for the trade of the furs towards the Hudson Bay.

Myths

During many years, one claimed that the lake sheltered a monster similar to the Monstre of the Log Born and with the Ogopogo of Colombia-British. He was called “Manipogo”.

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