Grand Lake (Newfoundland and Labrador)

Grand Lake is a large lake in the interior of the island of Newfoundland, in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It has an area of 543 km² (210 sq mi), making it the largest lake on Newfoundland. Contained within the lake is the 18th largest lake-island in the world, Glover Island.

Grand Lake
Wli'Qospem (Mi'kmaq)[1]
Grand Lake Location in Newfoundland
Location	Newfoundland, Canada
Coordinates	48°54′43″N 57°30′05″W
Type	Natural Lake, Reservoir
Primary inflows	Sandy Lake, Hinds Brook, Red Indian Brook, Lewaseechjeech Brook
Primary outflows	Humber Canal (Man Made), Junction Brook (Dammed)
Catchment area	5,030 km2 (1,940 sq mi)
Basin countries	Canada
Max. length	100 km (62 mi)
Max. width	10 km (6.2 mi)
Surface area	543 km2 (210 sq mi)
Average depth	50 m (160 ft)
Max. depth	475 m (1,558 ft) [2]
Water volume	27.15 km3 (6.51 cu mi)
Shore length1	283 km (176 mi)
Surface elevation	87 m (285 ft)
Islands	Glover Island
Settlements	Howley, NL
References	[3][4]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

History

The lake was flooded in 1924 with the construction of the Main Dam on Junction Brook, adding approximately 11 metres to the original lake depth.^[5][6] This elevation increase combined Grand Lake with Sandy Lake and Birchy Lake. With this, the lake also engulfed several smaller interconnected ponds and rivers such as Sandy Lake River (Main Brook).

Geography

Today, the lake's surface elevation varies between 84 and 87.7 metres; it is highest immediately following snow melt in the spring and lowest just before the spring melt begins.^[7] It is located on the west side of Newfoundland, 24 km southeast of the city of Corner Brook. Fed by numerous small streams and brooks, it drains into Deer Lake via the 12 km long Humber Canal, and then via the Humber River, into the Bay of Islands. The lake contains the uninhabited Glover Island (178 km²). Together with its feeder lakes, Sandy and Birchy, Grand Lake forms a waterway much used by recreational boaters.

Usage

The lake serves as a reservoir for the hydro-electric generating station at Deer Lake, which was constructed to provide electricity to the pulp and paper mill at Corner Brook.

See also

• List of lakes of Newfoundland and Labrador