Lake of the Woods

Lake of the Woods, 4350 km² (of which 3149 km² are in Canada), elevation 323 m, fed by Rainy River from the south and drained to the northwest by the WINNIPEG RIVER; it is a remnant of former glacial Lake AGASSIZ. The south shore is regular, low and sandy, contrasting with the granite edge, myriad channels, peninsulas and 14 632 islands of the north shore. Thrust into the lake from the east is Aulneau Peninsula, named for the Jesuit priest Jean-Pierre Aulneau (1705-36) who, along with Jean-Baptiste LA VÉRENDRYE and 19 others, was killed on an island in the lake by Sioux warriors. The French explorer Jacques de Noyon reached the lake in 1688, and La Vérendrye built Fort Saint-Charles on the north shore (1732).

The lake was part of the main FUR-TRADE ROUTE, and voyageurs frequently lost their way among its islands. Cree, Ojibwa and Sioux lived in the area first, and rock paintings have been found at several sites. About 2000 native people still live around the lake in numerous reserves. The Canada-US border runs north-northwest from the mouth of Rainy River across the lake, leaving a small peninsula of US territory above the 49th parallel.

The scenic lake attracts a thriving tourist trade. In early August, sailboats from Canada, Britain and the US take part in the Lake of the Woods Regatta, a 7-day race from KENORA around the lake. The lake's islands are wooded, but the name is likely a mistranslation of an Indian word meaning "inland lake of the hills."

Author JAMES MARSH

Links to Other Sites
Sioux Narrows-Nestor Falls
Official website for the Township of Sioux Narrows - Nestor Falls, located on the renowned Lake of the Woods in Northwestern Ontario.

Four Directions Teachings
Elders and traditional teachers representing the Blackfoot, Cree, Ojibwe, Mohawk, and Mi’kmaq share teachings about their history and culture. Animated graphics visualize each of the oral teachings. This website also provides biographies of participants, transcripts, and an extensive array of learning resources for students and their teachers. In English with French subtitles.

Lake of the Woods Museum
The website for the the Lake of the Woods Museum in Kenora, Ontario. The museum’s collections and exhibits feature First Nations and pioneer artifacts, natural history, minerals, textiles, pictorial and archival material related to the history of the Lake of the Woods and the surrounding area.

Dawson Trail Expedition (Red River Expedition)
A collection of images depicting the Dawson Trail expedition (Red River Expedition.) From Archives & Special Collections, University of Manitoba.