Quesnel Lake

Quesnel Lake
Hurricane Point
Location	British Columbia
Coordinates	52°32′N 121°2′W / 52.533°N 121.033°W / 52.533; -121.033Coordinates: 52°32′N 121°2′W / 52.533°N 121.033°W / 52.533; -121.033
Type	glacial, fjord lake, oligotrophic[1]
Primary inflows	Horsefly River Mitchell River Niagara Creek[1]
Primary outflows	Quesnel River (total 131m3)[1]
Catchment area	6,200 km2 (2,400 sq mi)[1]
Basin countries	Canada
Max. length	100km From Likely to end of East arm, 48km North Arm
Surface area	266 km2 (103 sq mi)[1]
Average depth	157 m (515 ft)[1]
Max. depth	610 m (2,000 ft)[2]
Water volume	41.8 km3 (10.0 cu mi)[1]
Residence time	10.1 years[1]
Shore length1	323.8 km (201.2 mi)
Surface elevation	728 m (2,388 ft)[3]
Settlements	Likely, Horsefly
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Quesnel Lake is a glacial lake or fjord in British Columbia, Canada, and is the major tertiary of the Fraser River. With a maximum depth of 610 meters (although the true maximum depth is unknown), it is claimed to be the deepest fjord lake in the world,^[1] the fifth-deepest lake in BC, and the deepest lake in the Cariboo region.^[4]

On August 4, 2014, the tailings pond of Mount Polley mine burst, spilling tailings into Polley Lake and Quesnel Lake and temporarily depriving residents of Likely, British Columbia, of fresh water for household use.

Forestry, mining and fishing are popular in this area. Quesnel Lake is also a trophy lake because live bait or barbed hooks are not allowed. Catch-and-release restrictions apply to Steelhead fish less than 10 cm or greater than 50cm. Rainbow trout, dolly varden and other lake trout are common.

References

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