Brightsand Lake
{{Short description|Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Brightsand Lake
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| location = RM of Mervin No. 499,{{flag|Saskatchewan}}
| pushpin_map = Saskatchewan#Canada
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Saskatchewan
| coords = {{coord|53.6001|-108.8840|region:CA-SK_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
| type =
| part_of = Saskatchewan River drainage basin
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| outflow = Brightsand Creek
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| basin_countries = {{flag|Canada}}
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| area = {{cvt|4560.7|ha}}
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| max-depth = {{cvt|14.7|m}}
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| shore = {{cvt|27.2|km}}
| elevation = {{cvt|652|m}}
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Brightsand Lake{{cite web |title=Brightsand Lake |url=https://toponymes.rncan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/HAKKS|website=Canadian Geographical Names Database |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=28 July 2022}} is a lake in the Canadian Province of Saskatchewan. It is in the Rural Municipality of Mervin No. 499 in the west-central part of the province in the aspen parkland ecoregion. Brightsand Creek{{cite web |title=Brightsand Creek |url=https://toponymes.rncan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/HAKKR|website=Canadian Geographical Names Database |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=28 July 2022}} — located on the western side of the lake — is the outflow and it flows in a southerly direction into Turtlelake River, which is a tributary of the North Saskatchewan River.{{cite web |title=Brightsand Lake Fishing Map |url=https://www.gpsnauticalcharts.com/main/ca_sk_brightsand_lake_sk-brightsand-lake-nautical-chart.html |website=GPS Nautical Charts |publisher=Bist LLC. |access-date=28 July 2022}} Turtle Lake is about {{convert|9.5|km}} to the east and the Meadow Lake Escarpment{{cite web |title=Williston Basin Symposium |url=https://archives.datapages.com/data/ndgs_sgs/data/0002/0070/0070.html |website=Datapages, Inc |publisher=Datapages, Inc |access-date=12 October 2023}} is to the north-east.
There are several communities and a regional park dotted around its shores. At the southern end of the lake is Crystal Bay-Sunset and Thunderchild Indian Reserve 115Z; along the eastern shore is Evergreen Beach, Mowrey Beach, and Lakeshore Estates subdivision; and Brightsand Lake Regional Park is at the northern end. Access to the lake is from Highways 795 and 796.
Brightsand Lake Regional Park
Brightsand Lake Regional Park ({{Coord|53.6436|-108.8458|display=inline}}){{cite web |title=Brightsand Lake Regional Park |url=https://toponymes.rncan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/HAXDH|website=Canadian Geographical Names Database |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=28 July 2022}} is a 1,600-acre park about {{convert|27|km}} east of the town of St. Walburg on the northern end of Brightsand Lake. Though it was founded in 1965, the area has been a popular place for vacationers since the early 1900s because of its clear water and mile-long sandy beach.{{cite web |title=Bright Sand Regional Park |url=https://rmofmervin.ca/rm-of-mervin-no-499/our-lakes/bright-sand-lake/bright-sand-regional-park/ |website=R.M. of Mervin |publisher=RM of Mervin No. 499 |access-date=28 July 2022}} The park is accessed off of Highway 795.
Amenities and attractions at Brightsand Regional Park include camping, golfing, mini golf, 28 kilometres of hiking trails, a boat launch, concession, a playground, fishing, and swimming.{{cite web |title=Brightsand Lake Regional Park Public Beach |url=https://www.theswimguide.org/beach/2614 |website=The Swim Guide |publisher=Swim Drink Fish Canada |access-date=28 July 2022}}
The campground has 106 individual campsites and 17 group campsites. All of the group sites are electric and about half the individual sites are electric. There are also two modern cabins for rent. At the campground there's a shower house, washrooms, and a sani-dump.{{cite web |title=Brightsand Lake Regional Park |url=https://www.tourismsaskatchewan.com/listings/2990/brightsand-lake-regional-park |website=Tourism Saskatchewan |publisher=Government of Saskatchewan |access-date=28 July 2022}}
The golf course is a par 37, 9-hole, sand greens course. The men's tees total 2,860 yards and the ladies' total 2,608.{{cite web |title=Brightsand Lake |url=https://saskregionalparks.ca/park/brightsand-lake/ |website=Saskatchewan Regional Parks |publisher=Saskatchewan Regional Parks |access-date=28 July 2022}}
Fish species
Fish species commonly found in the lake include are northern pike, white sucker, rainbow trout, walleye, and yellow perch.{{cite web |title=Brightsand Lake |url=https://fishbrain.com/fishing-waters/ClR0BE8c/brightsand-lake?gclid=CjwKCAjwquWVBhBrEiwAt1KmwilVJJpKr8QveLfmp4CEnX-XiQ-F1x7yJiX8Qy2In45IYVr0BCMcYRoCwsEQAvD_BwE |website=Fishbrain |publisher=Fishbrain |access-date=28 July 2022}}{{cite web |title=Brightsand Lake |url=https://www.anglersatlas.com/place/111434/brightsand-lake |website=Angler's Atlas |publisher=Angler's Atlas |access-date=28 July 2022}}