Owikeno Lake

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Owikeno Lake
Canada British Columbia relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Owikeno Lake
Location British Columbia
Coordinates 51°41′N126°55′W / 51.683°N 126.917°W / 51.683; -126.917
Primary inflows Tzeo, Inziana, Machmell, and Sheemahant Rivers
Primary outflows Wannock River
Basin  countriesCanada

Owikeno Lake, also Owekeeno Lake, Owekano Lake, Oweekayno Lake and other spellings (pron. "o we KEE no"), is a large fjord lake in the Central Coast region of British Columbia, Canada. It connects to the head of Rivers Inlet by the short Wannock River (Wanukv). The lake's name comes from the indigenous people of the region, the Wuikinuxv, whose settlements and territory lie around the lake. Their largest and principal settlement was on an island in the lower reaches of the lake named Katit .

Owikeno Lake is fed by several large rivers, the Tzeo (Ciu), Inziana, Machmell, Sheemahant Rivers. Feeding the Machmell is the Neechantz River, joining the Machmell just above its mouth into the lake. The Washwash River similarly joins the Tzeo just above that river's estuary into the lake.

See also

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Katit Indian Reserve No. 1 is the main Indian reserve of the Wuikinuxv people, and is one of the three reserves governed by the Wuikinuxv Nation band government. It is located in British Columbia, Canada, on the entrance to Owikeno Lake on the north side of the Wannock River near to, but separate from, the non-native community and sport fishing resort of Rivers Inlet. Similarly named Katit Island is in the Wannock River at 51°40′41″N127°11′48″W, while Kahtit Creek is downstream, near the mouth of the Wannock River at 51°40′47″N127°15′00″W near the Wuikinuxv village known as Oweekeno.

The Sheemahant River is a river in the Central Coast region of British Columbia, Canada, flowing generally west out of the Pacific Ranges into the head of Owikeno Lake.

The Tzeo River is a river in the Central Coast region of British Columbia, Canada, flowing generally south out of the Pacific Ranges into the head of Owikeno Lake.

The Neechantz River is a river in the Central Coast region of British Columbia, Canada, flowing north out of the Pacific Ranges into the Machmell River just before its mouth into the head of Owikeno Lake.

The Washwash River is a river in the Central Coast region of British Columbia, Canada, flowing generally west out of the Pacific Ranges into the Tzeo River just above the Tzeo's mouth into the head of Owikeno Lake.

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