Adams Lake
Encyclopedia
Adams Lake is a large, deep, coldwater lake
. The southern end of the lake is approximately 30 km (18.6 mi) north of the town of Chase
in the Shuswap Country
region of British Columbia
, Canada
. The lake's upper reaches lie in the northern Monashee Mountains
, while its lower end penetrates the Shuswap Highland
.
The lake is 63 km (39.1 mi) long and between 1.6 km and 3.2 km (1 to 2 miles) wide. The surface elevation is 404 meters (1,326 feet) above sea level. The lake is very deep; it is the second deepest lake in British Columbia next to Quesnel Lake
with a maximum depth of 500 meters (1500 feet). Water flows into the lake though many tributaries (most notably the Upper Adams River
, Momich River, and Bush Creek). The water drains from the lake into the Lower Adams River
which is home to a very large and famous sockeye salmon
run which attracts many visitors to the region each year. From there the water flows into Shuswap Lake
, and down the Thompson River
.
Though a few villages exist along Adams Lake, the vast majority of the lake is undeveloped. The lack of development is partially due to the nature of the shoreline, which is mostly sheer rock faces or steep, stony beaches. Few recreationally suitable beaches exist naturally on the lake. Some man-made sandy beaches have been constructed for public use. (see "Adams Lake Provincial Park
")
chief in the mid-nineteeth century. By most accounts, the lake is named after him. Adam died in the 1862 smallpox
epidemic, which, according to James Teit
, killed over half the local Secwepemc population.
Adams Lake has been the site of at least two Secwepemc blockades, one in solidarity with the Kanesatake
Mohawk
in 1990, and the other in the summer of 1995, to prevent the development of a 60-unit Recreational Vehicle
park on Secwepemc burial ground.
s drawn by tug boats. It is a common sight to see these log booms anchored in wait at lakeside.
, Kokanee
, Lake trout
, and Dolly Varden
. The lake is also used for swimming, pleasure boating and water skiing. The area around the lake is popular with campers and is home to a large variety of flora and fauna. During autumn and winter people hunt for game birds and big game such as mule deer
, black bear
, and cougar (mountain lion).
Average maximum temperature (summer): 28.4 °C (84 °F) Average minimum temperature (winter): -8.8 °C (16 °F)
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
. The southern end of the lake is approximately 30 km (18.6 mi) north of the town of Chase
Chase, British Columbia
Chase is a village located in the Interior of British Columbia, Canada. It has a population of roughly 2,500, and its main industries are forestry and tourism. It is located at the outlet of Little Shuswap Lake, which is the source of the South Thompson River...
in the Shuswap Country
Shuswap Country
The Shuswap Country, or simply "the Shuswap" is a term used in the Canadian province of British Columbia to refer to the environs of Shuswap Lake. The upper reaches of the Shuswap basin, southeast of Shuswap Lake and northeast of the Okanagan, are generally considered to be part of Okanagan or of...
region of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The lake's upper reaches lie in the northern Monashee Mountains
Monashee Mountains
The Monashee Mountains are a mountain range mostly in British Columbia, Canada, extending into the U.S. state of Washington. They stretch from north to south and from east to west. They are a subrange of the Columbia Mountains...
, while its lower end penetrates the Shuswap Highland
Shuswap Highland
The Shuswap Highland is a plateau-like hilly area of in British Columbia, Canada. It spans the upland area between the Bonaparte and Thompson Plateaus from the area of Mahood Lake, at the southeast corner of the Cariboo Plateau, southeast towards the lower Shuswap River east of Vernon in the...
.
Quesnel Lake
Quesnel Lake is a glacial lake or fjord in British Columbia, Canada, and is the origin of the Quesnel River. With a maximum depth of 610 meters , it is the deepest lake in British Columbia, though not the deepest lake in Canada, as is often claimed. That distinction belongs to Great Slave Lake...
with a maximum depth of 500 meters (1500 feet). Water flows into the lake though many tributaries (most notably the Upper Adams River
Adams River (British Columbia)
The Adams River is a tributary of the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. Beginning in the Monashee Mountains to the north, the Upper Adams River flows mainly southward and eventually reaches Adams Lake. The Lower Adams River begins at the southern end of the lake and flows into the extreme...
, Momich River, and Bush Creek). The water drains from the lake into the Lower Adams River
Adams River (British Columbia)
The Adams River is a tributary of the Fraser River in British Columbia, Canada. Beginning in the Monashee Mountains to the north, the Upper Adams River flows mainly southward and eventually reaches Adams Lake. The Lower Adams River begins at the southern end of the lake and flows into the extreme...
which is home to a very large and famous sockeye salmon
Sockeye salmon
Sockeye salmon , also called red salmon or blueback salmon in the USA, is an anadromous species of salmon found in the Northern Pacific Ocean and rivers discharging into it...
run which attracts many visitors to the region each year. From there the water flows into Shuswap Lake
Shuswap Lake
Shuswap Lake is a lake located in south-central British Columbia, Canada that drains via the Little River into Little Shuswap Lake. Little Shuswap Lake is the source of the South Thompson River, a branch of the Thompson River, a tributary of the Fraser River...
, and down the Thompson River
Thompson River
The Thompson River is the largest tributary of the Fraser River, flowing through the south-central portion of British Columbia, Canada. The Thompson River has two main branches called the South Thompson and the North Thompson...
.
Though a few villages exist along Adams Lake, the vast majority of the lake is undeveloped. The lack of development is partially due to the nature of the shoreline, which is mostly sheer rock faces or steep, stony beaches. Few recreationally suitable beaches exist naturally on the lake. Some man-made sandy beaches have been constructed for public use. (see "Adams Lake Provincial Park
Adams Lake Provincial Park
Adams Lake Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. It encompasses three distinct parks: Adams Lake Provincial Park, Adams Lake Marine Provincial Park , and Adams Lake Marine Provincial Park .The parks are located east of Kamloops, and 30 kilometres north of Chase...
")
History
Chief Adam (sometimes spelled Atahm) was a prominent SecwepemcSecwepemc
The Secwepemc , known in English as the Shuswap people, are a First Nations people residing in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Their traditional territory ranges from the eastern Chilcotin Plateau and the Cariboo Plateau southeast through the Thompson Country to Kamloops and the Shuswap...
chief in the mid-nineteeth century. By most accounts, the lake is named after him. Adam died in the 1862 smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
epidemic, which, according to James Teit
James Teit
James Alexander Teit was an anthropologist and photographer who worked with Franz Boas to study Interior Salish First Nations peoples in the late 19th and early 20th centuries...
, killed over half the local Secwepemc population.
Adams Lake has been the site of at least two Secwepemc blockades, one in solidarity with the Kanesatake
Kanesatake, Quebec
Kanehsatake is a Mohawk settlement on the shore of the Lake of Two Mountains at the Ottawa River in southwestern Quebec, Canada, near Montreal. The Doncaster 17 Indian Reserve also belongs to the Mohawk of Kanesatake. The population of the community is 1700.The community was formally founded...
Mohawk
Mohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
in 1990, and the other in the summer of 1995, to prevent the development of a 60-unit Recreational Vehicle
Recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
park on Secwepemc burial ground.
Forestry
Forestry forms the economic base for the region. Unpaved logging roads, which provide the only land access, run the full length of the lake. At the south end of the lake operates a saw mill. The logs for which are harvested further up the lake, deposited into the lake near the Momich River by a large crane. The logs are then floated down the lake to the mill in log boomLog boom
A log boom is a barrier placed in a river, designed to collect and or contain floating logs timbered from nearby forests sometimes called a fence or bag. The term is also used as a place where logs were collected into booms, as at the mouth of a river...
s drawn by tug boats. It is a common sight to see these log booms anchored in wait at lakeside.
Recreation
Adams Lake is used for recreation year round. Sport anglers commonly fish the lake for Rainbow TroutRainbow trout
The rainbow trout is a species of salmonid native to tributaries of the Pacific Ocean in Asia and North America. The steelhead is a sea run rainbow trout usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years at sea. In other words, rainbow trout and steelhead trout are the same species....
, Kokanee
Kokanee
Kokanee is a word from the Okanagan language referring to land-locked lake populations of Sockeye salmon . It may also refer to:* Kokanee Range, a subrange of the Selkirk Mountains in British Columbia, Canada...
, Lake trout
Lake trout
Lake trout is a freshwater char living mainly in lakes in northern North America. Other names for it include mackinaw, lake char , touladi, togue, and grey trout. In Lake Superior, they can also be variously known as siscowet, paperbellies and leans...
, and Dolly Varden
Dolly Varden trout
The Dolly Varden trout, Salvelinus malma malma, is a subspecies of anadromous fish in the salmon family, and is technically a char. Although many of the fish are anadromous, the fish also exists in landlocked waters.- Range :The subspecies S. m...
. The lake is also used for swimming, pleasure boating and water skiing. The area around the lake is popular with campers and is home to a large variety of flora and fauna. During autumn and winter people hunt for game birds and big game such as mule deer
Mule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
, black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
, and cougar (mountain lion).
Climate
- Average Hours of Sunshine: 2,000+ per year
- Average Rainfall: 304.7 mm (11 in) annually
- Average Snowfall: 139.8 cm (55 in) in the valleys. Up to 644 cm (253.5 in) on the mountains
- Frost Free Days: 120–175 days annually
Average maximum temperature (summer): 28.4 °C (84 °F) Average minimum temperature (winter): -8.8 °C (16 °F)