Ashuanipi Lake

{{Infobox body of water

| name = Ashuanipi Lake

| image =

| caption =

| pushpin_map = Canada Newfoundland and Labrador

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Labrador

| location = Southern Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

| coords = {{Coord|52.65|N|66.13|W|region:CA_type:waterbody_scale:500000|display=inline,title}}

| type =

| inflow =

| outflow = Ashuanipi River

| catchment =

| basin_countries = Canada

| length =

| width =

| area = {{cvt|517|km2}}

| depth =

| max-depth =

| volume =

| residence_time =

| shore =

| elevation = {{cvt|529|m}}

| islands =

| cities =

| reference = {{Cite web |url=http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/learningresources/facts/lakes.html#newfoundland |work=Atlas of Canada |title=Newfoundland and Labrador - Lake Areas and Elevation (lakes larger than 400 square kilometres) |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070410230512/http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/learningresources/facts/lakes.html#newfoundland |archivedate=April 10, 2007 |url-status=dead}}

}}

Ashuanipi Lake ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|æ|ʃ|u|ˈ|ɑː|n|ə|p|i}}){{Citation| author = The Canadian Press| author-link = The Canadian Press| title = The Canadian Press Stylebook| place = Toronto| publisher = The Canadian Press| edition = 18th| year = 2017}} is an irregularly shaped lake in southern Labrador, in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It lies at an elevation of {{cvt|529|m}} and covers an area of {{cvt|517|km2}}, not including {{cvt|79|km2}} occupied by islands within the lake such as Grande Île{{cite web |url=http://www4.nrcan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/AAIIS |title=Grande Ile |work=Canadian Geographical Names Data Base |date=October 6, 2016 |accessdate=February 23, 2017}} or Grosse Île.{{cite web |url=http://www4.nrcan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/AAIYX |title=Grosse Ile |work=Canadian Geographical Names Data Base |date=October 6, 2016 |accessdate=February 23, 2017}} In the Innu language, ashuanipi means "a place to cross."{{cite thesis |last=Brake |first=Jamie E. S. |date=2007 |title=Ashuanipi Kupitan: Excavation at the Ferguson Bay 1 Site in Western Labrador |type=M.A. |page=iii |publisher=Memorial University of Newfoundland |url=http://research.library.mun.ca/10194/ |accessdate=February 23, 2017}} Ashuanipi River flows from the north end of the lake to the Menihek Lakes, which ultimately drain through the Churchill River system into Lake Melville and the Atlantic Ocean. The Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway runs along the lake's eastern shore, and the Trans-Labrador Highway crosses the Ashuanipi River about {{cvt|10|km}} north of the lake's northern terminus.{{cite web |url=http://www4.nrcan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/AAAHN |title=Ashuanipi Lake |work=Canadian Geographical Names Data Base |date=October 6, 2016 |accessdate=February 23, 2017}}

The lake features excellent fishing for lake trout, pike, whitefish and landlocked salmon.{{cite thesis |last=Brake |first=Jamie E. S. |date=2007 |title=Ashuanipi Kupitan: Excavation at the Ferguson Bay 1 Site in Western Labrador |type=M.A. |chapter=3: Environmental Context |publisher=Memorial University of Newfoundland |url=http://research.library.mun.ca/10194/ |accessdate=February 23, 2017}} The Lac Joseph caribou herd can be found around Ashuanipi Lake during the summer and fall.{{cite report |url=http://www.ceaa.gc.ca/050/documents/48841/48841F.pdf |title=Recovery Strategy for Three Woodland Caribou Herds (Rangifer tarandus caribou; Boreal population) in Labrador |page=15 |publisher=Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador |date=2004 |place=Corner Brook |accessdate=February 23, 2017}} The lake is mainly surrounded by forests of black spruce, although the Kapitagas Channel at the southern end of the lake features the only jack pine forest in Labrador and is protected as part of Redfir Lake–Kapitagas Channel Ecological Reserve.{{cite web |url=http://www.ecc.gov.nl.ca/parks/wer/r_rle/index.html |title=Redfir Lake-Kapitagas Channel Ecological Reserve |page=15 |publisher=Department of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador |accessdate=February 23, 2017}}

Through radiocarbon dating, evidence has been found at the lake for human habitation as far back as 1600 years ago.{{cite thesis |last=Brake |first=Jamie E. S. |date=2007 |title=Ashuanipi Kupitan: Excavation at the Ferguson Bay 1 Site in Western Labrador |type=M.A. |chapter=4: Data Presentation |publisher=Memorial University of Newfoundland |url=http://research.library.mun.ca/10194/ |accessdate=February 23, 2017}} Along with the Moisie River, whose headwaters are nearby, the lake was part of a route used by the Innu to reach the lower north shore of the St. Lawrence River.{{cite thesis |last=Brake |first=Jamie E. S. |date=2007 |title=Ashuanipi Kupitan: Excavation at the Ferguson Bay 1 Site in Western Labrador |type=M.A. |chapter=2: Background |publisher=Memorial University of Newfoundland |url=http://research.library.mun.ca/10194/ |accessdate=February 23, 2017}} The lake was known to the colonists of New France by the early 18th century.{{cite thesis |last=Neilsen |first=Scott W. |date=2016 |title=An archaeological history of Ashuanipi, Labrador |type=Ph.D. |page=59 |publisher=Memorial University of Newfoundland |url=http://research.library.mun.ca/11947/ |accessdate=February 23, 2017}}