Bistcho Lake

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Bistcho Lake
Canada Alberta relief location map - transverse mercator proj.svg
Red pog.svg
Bistcho Lake
Location Mackenzie County, Alberta
Coordinates 59°44′33″N118°50′42″W / 59.74250°N 118.84500°W / 59.74250; -118.84500
Primary outflows Petitot River
Basin  countriesCanada
Surface area413 km2 (159 sq mi)
Average depth0.7 m (2.3 ft)
Max. depth6.7 m (22 ft)
Surface elevation552 m (1,811 ft)
Map symbol-pin.svg
Alberta rivers.png
Bistcho Lake location in western Canada

Bistcho Lake is a large lake in northwestern Alberta, Canada.

Bistcho Lake has a total area of 413 km2 (159 sq mi) (with 13 km2 (5.0 sq mi) islands area and 413 km2 (159 sq mi) water surface), and lies at an elevation of 552 m (1,811 ft). [1] It is the third largest lake in Alberta.

Bistcho Lake is located in the hydrographic basin of the Liard River, with which it is connected by the Petitot River. The waters of the lake drain into the Arctic Ocean through the Petitot, Liard and Mackenzie River.

The Jackfish Point and Bistcho Lake indian reserves of the Dene Tha' First Nation are established on the southern shore of the lake.

In May of 2021 the Dene Tha' First Nation formally proposed an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA) that would be centred on the lake but include much of the northwestern corner of Alberta. [2] In preparation for the proposed IPCA, the First Nation did extensive archaeological surveys of the shores of the lake, demonstrating continuous use of the lake by indigenous hunters and fishers for thousands of years. [3]

See also

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References

  1. Atlas of Canada. "Lakes of Canada". Archived from the original on 2013-01-22. Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  2. "The Case for an IPCA at Bistcho Lake". Dene Tha' First Nation. 2021-05-05. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  3. Bistcho Lake: Indigenous Leadership in Conservation , retrieved 2023-04-28