Candle Lake (Saskatchewan)

{{Infobox body of water

| name = Candle Lake

| image = Candle Lake August 18 2012 (7829374802).jpg

| image_size = 255

| caption = Candle Lake

| image_bathymetry =

| caption_bathymetry =

| location = Paddockwood No. 520, Saskatchewan

| pushpin_map = Saskatchewan#Canada

| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Saskatchewan

| coords = {{coord|53|49|13.86|N|105|18|15.47|W|type:waterbody_region:CA|display=inline,title}}

| type = Reservoir

| agency = Saskatchewan Water Security Agency

| inflow = {{hlist|Fisher Creek|Clearsand Creek|Hanin Creek}}

| rivers =

| outflow = Torch River

| catchment =

| part_of = Saskatchewan River drainage basin

| basin_countries = Canada

| length =

| width =

| area = {{cvt|13269.3|ha}}

| depth =

| max-depth = {{cvt|16.8|m}}

| volume =

| residence_time =

| shore = {{cvt|116.2|km}}

| elevation = {{cvt|491|m}}

| islands =

| cities = Candle Lake

}}

Candle Lake{{cite web |title=Candle Lake |url=https://toponymes.rncan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/HABQF|website=Canadian Geographical Names Database |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=31 July 2022}} is a reservoir in the central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in the boreal forest, approximately {{convert|80|km}} north-east of Prince Albert. A dam completed in 1979 at the southern end of the lake regulates water levels; several small creeks feed into the lake and Torch River flows out of the lake at the dam. Candle Lake Provincial Park{{cite web |title=Candle Lake Provincial Park |url=https://www.tourismsaskatchewan.com/provincialpark/3039/candle-lake-provincial-park#sort=relevancy |website=Tourism Saskatchewan |publisher=Government of Saskatchewan |access-date=1 August 2022}} surrounds most of the lake and the resort village of Candle Lake is at the southern end.

The lake takes its name from a Cree legend about flickering lights appearing near the north end of the lake, which have supposedly been seen right up to contemporary times.{{cite web | url=https://esask.uregina.ca/entry/candle_lake.jsp | title=The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan | Details | access-date=1 August 2022 | archive-date=28 July 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728145255/https://esask.uregina.ca/entry/candle_lake.jsp | url-status=dead }} Scientists speculate that the lights are likely caused from "swamp gas or a phosphorescent glow created by decaying drift wood",{{cite web | url=https://www.virtualsk.com/current_issue/candles_on_the_lake.html | title=Virtual Saskatchewan - Candles on the Lake }} rather than having a paranormal origin.{{cite web |title=Our History |url=https://candlelake.ca/p/our-history |website=Candle Lake |publisher=Resort Village of Candle Lake |access-date=5 September 2023}}

Highways 265 and 120 provide access to the lake and its amenities. Candle Lake Airpark is located on the western shore of the lake {{convert|2.6|NM|lk=in}} west-northwest of the village of Candle Lake.

Parks and recreation

Candle Lake is a popular tourist destination in Western Canada as most of the lake is surrounded by Candle Lake Provincial Park. Along the lake's shores there are several natural sand beaches including Minowukaw Beach,{{cite web |title=Minowukaw Beach Campground |url=https://www.tourismsaskatchewan.com/listings/3042/minowukaw-beach-campground |website=Tourism Saskatchewan |publisher=Government of Saskatchewan |access-date=5 September 2023}} Waskateena Beach, Candle Lake Beach, and the Purple Sands Beach.

The Purple Sands Beach has vibrantly striped bands of sand in purple, magenta, and pink hues. The purple sand comes from garnet that was brought to the region from the Canadian Shield by glaciation during the ice age about 12,000 years ago.{{cite news |last1=MacDonald |first1=Ryan |title=Canada's Little-known Geological Wonder |url=http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20200210-canadas-little-known-geological-wonder |accessdate=11 February 2020 |publisher=BBC |date=11 February 2020}} Adjacent to Minowukaw Beach are the Minowukaw Sand Dunes. Amenities and activities in and around the lake include sport fishing and other water sports, camping, golfing,{{cite web | url=https://www.golfpass.com/travel-advisor/courses/28428-candle-lake-golf-course | title=Candle Lake Golf Course in Candle Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada | GolfPass }} hiking, fishing, and boating.{{cite web

|url = http://www.tpcs.gov.sk.ca/TTDCandleLake

|title = Things To Do At Candle Lake

|publisher = Saskatchewan Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport

|access-date = 2011-05-30

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090106155747/http://www.tpcs.gov.sk.ca/TTDCandleLake#

|archive-date = 2009-01-06

|url-status = dead

}}{{cite web |title=Candle Lake Fishing Map |url=https://www.gpsnauticalcharts.com/main/ca_sk_candle_lake_sk-candle-lake-nautical-chart.html |website=GPS Nautical Charts |publisher=Bist LLC |access-date=1 August 2022}} At Candle Lake Beach on Berezowsky Bay, Sask Aquatic Adventures{{cite web |title=Duck Mountain Water Park |url=https://www.saskaquaticadventures.com/our-parks/duck-mountain |website=Sask Aquatic Adventures |publisher=Aquatic Adventures |access-date=9 September 2023}} has a water adventure park set up. Several marinas are dotted around the lake's shore providing boating access to the lake.

Candle Lake Dam

The level in Candle Lake is regulated by a four-bay {{convert|3.1|m|adj=on|abbr=on}} high concrete dam, constructed in 1978–1979 and operated by the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority. It is located at the south-eastern corner of the lake at Hanson Bay and it discharges into the Torch River.{{cite web |title=Dams and Reservoirs |url=https://www.wsask.ca/lakes-rivers/dams-reservoirs/ |website=WSask |date=27 January 2021 |publisher=Dams and Reservoirs |access-date=1 August 2022}}

The construction of the dam prevented the normal spawning movement of fish each spring between the Torch River and Candle Lake. In 2002, the Minowukaw Fishway was constructed to better allow fish to travel between the lake and the river.

Fish species

Fish commonly found in the lake include walleye, northern pike, lake whitefish, white sucker, shorthead redhorse, longnose sucker, and burbot.{{cite web |title=About Candle Lake |url=https://fishbrain.com/fishing-waters/3dyJYDCD/candle-lake |website=Fishbrain |publisher=Fish brain |access-date=1 August 2022}}{{cite web |title=Candle Lake |url=https://www.anglersatlas.com/place/109673/candle-lake |website=Angler's Atlas |access-date=1 August 2022}}