Great Slave Lake

Great Slave Lake

Great Slave Lake is located in northwestern Canada, in the southern part of the South Slave Region of the Northwest Territories, near the northern border of Alberta. It is the second-largest lake in Canada, covering an area of 28,600 square kilometers, with a maximum depth of 614 meters and a water volume of 2.088 trillion cubic meters. Fed by the Slave River upstream and draining into the Mackenzie River downstream, it has a long ice-cover period.

Great Slave Lake is situated in the southern part of the South Slave Region in northwestern Canada. Its name originates from the Indigenous tribes that once lived along its shores—tribes that were driven northward by the Cree people, who referred to them as "slaves." The formation of Great Slave Lake is closely associated with Quaternary glaciation. While most lakes in the region, with the exception of Winnipeg Lake and nearby Manitoba lakes (which are remnants of ice-margin lakes), are linked to glacial erosion or glacial deposits, glacial erosion plays the dominant role. The lake is primarily a product of glacial scouring, mainly consisting of glacially eroded basins.

The shoreline of Great Slave Lake is irregular and deeply indented with numerous bays, and its waters are deep and clear. The area supports a thriving fishing industry, yielding species such as whitefish and lake trout. The region also contains mineral resources including lead, zinc, and gold. Pine Point on the southern shore is a center for lead and zinc mining, while Yellowknife on the northeastern shore is a hub for gold mining and the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories.

Great Slave Lake

Must-visit reason: One of Canada's largest lakes

Continent where the attraction is located: North America【North America】

Country/region where the attraction is located: Canada[Canada]

Province/state where the attraction is located: Northwest Territories [Northwest Territories]