Powell Lake
| Powell Lake | |
|---|---|
Aerial view of Powell Lake and the city of Powell River | |
| Location | Sunshine Coast, British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 50°05′00″N 124°25′00″W / 50.08333°N 124.41667°W |
| Type | fjord lake / reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Powell River, Eldred River and Olsen Creek |
| Primary outflows | Powell River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 50 km (31 mi) |
| Surface area | 120 km2 (46 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 150 m (490 ft) |
| Max. depth | 360 m (1,180 ft) |
| Water volume | 18 km3 (4.3 cu mi) |
| Surface elevation | 56 m (184 ft) |
| Islands | Goat Island |
| Settlements | Powell River |
Powell Lake is a lake in the northern Sunshine Coast region of British Columbia, Canada, adjacent to the city of Powell River, which sits on the low rise of land forming a natural dam between the lake and the Strait of Georgia. The lake flows to the ocean through Powell River and features Goat Island, a large mountainous island. It serves as a reservoir for a small hydroelectric generating station which was built to serve the city's paper mill; and also as a water supply for that paper mill. The damming was completed in 1911. Its surface was raised 10 metres; from 46 to 56 metres above sea level. After damming; the lake consisted of six interconnected basins. The lake is also meromictic, containing fresh water down to approximately 100 metres depth, after which the water is saline. The salt water was trapped in the lake some 10,000 years ago due to retreating glaciers, which raised the land around the lake.