View source for Lesser Slave Lake

{{short description|Body of water in Alberta, Canada}}
{{about|the lake in Alberta|the electoral district|Lesser Slave Lake (electoral district)|the lake in the Northwest Territories|Great Slave Lake}}
{{Infobox lake
| name = Lesser Slave Lake
| other_name         = 
| image = SW Lesser Slave Lake.jpg
| caption = Southeast corner of the lake from Marten Mountain looking south, with Dog Island, Devonshire Beach, and the Town of Slave Lake visible in the distance
| image_bathymetry = 
|pushpin_map=Alberta
| caption_bathymetry = 
| location = [[Big Lakes County|Big Lakes]] / [[Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124|Lesser Slave River No. 124]], [[Alberta]]
| coords = {{coord|55|26|26|N|115|29|19|W|region:CA-AB_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
| type = [[Eutrophic]]<ref name=abatlas/>
| inflow =  [[South Heart River]], [[Swan River (Alberta)|Swan River]] [[Driftpile River]], [[Assineau River]], [[Marten River (Alberta)|Marten River]]
| outflow = [[Lesser Slave River]]
| catchment = {{convert|13900|km2|abbr=on}}<ref name=ILEC/>
| basin_countries = Canada
| length = +{{convert|100|km|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|15|km|abbr=on}}
| area = {{convert|1168|km2|abbr=on}}<ref name=canatlas/>
| depth = {{convert|11.4|m|abbr=on}}
| max-depth = {{convert|20.5|m|abbr=on}}
| volume = {{convert|13.69|km3|e6acre.ft|abbr=on}}<ref name=ILEC/>
| shore = {{convert|247|km|abbr=on}}
| elevation = {{convert|578|m|abbr=on}}
| islands = 
| cities = [[Slave Lake, Alberta|Slave Lake]], [[High Prairie]], Alberta
| reference =<ref name=abatlas>{{Cite web|url=http://sunsite.ualberta.ca/Projects/Alberta-Lakes/view/?region=Peace%20and%20Athabasca%20Region&basin=Athabasca%20River%20Basin&lake=Lesser%20Slave%20Lake&number=35&page=Introduction|title=Lesser Slave Lake|author=Atlas of Alberta Lakes|access-date=2007-05-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719024456/http://sunsite.ualberta.ca/Projects/Alberta-Lakes/view/?region=Peace%20and%20Athabasca%20Region&basin=Athabasca%20River%20Basin&lake=Lesser%20Slave%20Lake&number=35&page=Introduction|archive-date= 2011-07-19}}</ref><ref name=ILEC>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilec.or.jp/database/nam/dsnam085.html|author=International Lake Environment Committee|title=Lesser Slave Lake|access-date=2007-05-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713195012/http://www.ilec.or.jp/database/nam/dsnam085.html|archive-date=2007-07-13|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=canatlas>{{Cite web|url=http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/learningresources/facts/lakes.html|title=Lakes of Canada|author=Atlas of Canada|author-link=Atlas of Canada|access-date=2007-05-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070410230512/http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/learningresources/facts/lakes.html|archive-date=April 10, 2007}}</ref>
}}

'''Lesser Slave Lake''' is located in northern [[Alberta]], Canada, northwest of [[Edmonton, Alberta|Edmonton]].  It is the second largest lake entirely within Alberta boundaries (and the largest easily accessible by vehicle), covering {{convert|1160|km2|abbr=on}} and measuring over {{convert|100|km|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|15|km|abbr=on}} at its widest point. Lesser Slave Lake averages {{convert|11.4|m|abbr=on}} in depth and is {{convert|20.5|m|abbr=on}} at its deepest. It drains eastwards into the [[Athabasca River]] by way of the [[Lesser Slave River]].

The town of [[Slave Lake, Alberta|Slave Lake]] is located at the eastern tip of the lake, around the outflow of Lesser Slave River.

== Conservation and development ==
[[File:Alberta rivers.png|left|thumb|Lesser Slave Lake in the Center of Alberta]]
[[File:Lesser Slave Lake, Alberta photograph.jpg|thumb|left|Lesser Slave Lake at Canyon Creek]]
[[File:View of Slave Lake Shoreline.png|thumb|Slave Lake shoreline]]
Due to its location on a major [[Central Flyway|fly-way for migrating birds]], Lesser Slave Lake is popular with [[birder]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lslbo.org/home.asp|title=Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory|access-date=2007-05-01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070421212851/http://lslbo.org/home.asp|archive-date= 2007-04-21}}</ref> The nearby [[Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park]] has lakeside camping facilities located along sand beaches, with some rocky beaches as well. Fishing is popular and legal. The entire north shore of the lake is protected, other reserves being [[Hilliard's Bay Provincial Park]], ''Lesser Slave Lake Wildland'' and ''Grouard Trail Park Reserve''.

[[Alberta Highway 2|Highway 2]] and the [[Canadian National Railway]] follow the southern shore of the lake, and the [[Alberta Highway 88|Bicentennial Highway]] has its southernmost point at eastern end of the lake.

A number of [[Indian reserves]] are established at the shores of the lake:
*Kapawe'no First Nations Lands 150, 230 and 231 of the [[Kapawe'no First Nation]], 
*Sucker Creek 150a of the [[Sucker Creek Cree First Nation]]
*Drift Pile River 150 of the [[Driftpile First Nation]]
*Swan River 150e of the [[Swan River First Nation]] 
*Sawridge 150g and h [[Sawridge Band]]

== Accidents ==
;February 14, 1968
On February 14, 1968, a [[Cessna 182 Skylane|Cessna 182H CF-WUK]] plane crashed into the lake due to [[Icing conditions|ice forming on the wings]] and causing the pilot to lose control. The pilot was a Graham James Cox, a former [[No. 501 Squadron RAF|501 Squadron Commander]] during the [[Second World War]]. Both he and his two passengers died in the accident. The passengers were William Henry Lucus and Kenneth McIntosh McMillan.<ref>http://www.152hyderabad.co.uk/assets/images/Battle_Of_Britain_20.jpg/{{dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

;May 20, 2011
On May 20, 2011, a Bell 212 helicopter crashed into the lake while fighting the [[2011 Slave Lake fire]].  The pilot, 54-year-old Jean-Luc Deba of Montreal, died. On the one-year anniversary, a park at Canyon Creek was named in Deba's honor.<ref>[https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/hundreds-honour-pilot-who-died-fighting-slave-lake-wildfire-1.829848 CTV.ca]</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060215160612/http://www.lesserslavelake.ca/ Lesser Slave Lake Regional Tourism]

{{Alberta rivers and lakes}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Big Lakes County]]
[[Category:Hudson's Bay Company trading posts]]
[[Category:Lakes of Alberta]]
[[Category:Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124]]