Red Indian Lake
Encyclopedia
Red Indian Lake is located in the western interior of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador
, Canada
. The downstream end of the lake
drains into the Exploits River
. This winds through the interior of the island and eventually exits into the Atlantic Ocean
through the Bay of Exploits
. Lloyds River, the Victoria River
and Star River feed into the lake.
, also known as 'Red Indians,' inhabited several campsites on the shore of the lake. An expedition into the interior by John Cartwright
and brother George Cartwright
in search of the Beothuk found only abandoned campsites. At the time of their discovery of the lake they named it Lieutenant's Lake and they had assumed that the lake was part of the same system as Lake Mickmack, known today as Grand Lake
.
In January 1811, an expedition led by David Buchan
travelled up the Exploits River
in an attempt to establish friendly relations with the Beothuk; Buchan found them, but the encounter went badly and resulted in the deaths of two marines. John Peyton Jr. led another expedition to the lake in 1819 which also ended in tragedy, resulting in the death of the Beothuk headman Nonosbawsut
and the capture of Demasduwit
.
, and the forest surrounding the lake attracted attention. The lake was surveyed in 1899 by Alex McCombie and by 1901 Lewis Miller had set up a logging operation on the shore near the site of Demasduwit's capture. A railway branch line to the town of Millertown
was constructed, and in 1905 the Anglo-Newfoundland Development (AND) Company acquired a 99 year lease on timber and mineral rights for the land surrounding the lake.
Prospectors for the AND Company also discovered a substantial deposit of base metals on the north shore of the lake, and in 1926 the town of Buchans
was established. Mining operations began the following year.
, further downstream on the Exploits River. The mouth of Red Indian Lake was dammed, creating a vast storage reservoir for the power plant at the mill in Grand Falls.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
, 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 downstream end of the lake
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,...
drains into the Exploits River
Exploits River
The Exploits River is a Canadian river in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It flows through the Exploits Valley in the central part of the island of Newfoundland....
. This winds through the interior of the island and eventually exits into the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
through the Bay of Exploits
Bay of Exploits
The Bay of Exploits is a large bay in the northeast of Newfoundland. It extends from the mouth of the Exploits River and opens on to Notre Dame Bay to the north. It is approximately 1,000 square kilometers The Bay of Exploits is a large bay in the northeast of Newfoundland. It extends from the...
. Lloyds River, the Victoria River
Victoria River (Newfoundland)
The Victoria River is a tributary of the Exploits River in western Newfoundland, Canada.The Victoria River flows eastward from the Long Range Mountains to join the Exploits River at Red Indian Lake. It is 137 km in length.-See also:...
and Star River feed into the lake.
History
The BeothukBeothuk
The Beothuk were one of the aboriginal peoples in Canada. They lived on the island of Newfoundland at the time of European contact in the 15th and 16th centuries...
, also known as 'Red Indians,' inhabited several campsites on the shore of the lake. An expedition into the interior by John Cartwright
John Cartwright (political reformer)
John Cartwright was an English naval officer, Nottinghamshire militia major and prominent campaigner for parliamentary reform. He subsequently became known as the Father of Reform...
and brother George Cartwright
George Cartwright (trader)
George Cartwright , trader, explorer, born in Marnham, England, died unmarried in nearby Mansfield, England....
in search of the Beothuk found only abandoned campsites. At the time of their discovery of the lake they named it Lieutenant's Lake and they had assumed that the lake was part of the same system as Lake Mickmack, known today as Grand Lake
Grand Lake (Newfoundland)
Grand Lake is a large lake in the interior of the island of Newfoundland of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It has an area of 534 km², making it the largest lake on the island of Newfoundland. Consequently it is one of, if not the deepest...
.
In January 1811, an expedition led by David Buchan
David Buchan
David Buchan was a Scottish naval officer and Arctic explorer.-Exploration:In 1806, Buchan was appointed as a lieutenant in the Royal Navy, and from about 1808 to 1817 he operated in and around Newfoundland...
travelled up the Exploits River
Exploits River
The Exploits River is a Canadian river in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It flows through the Exploits Valley in the central part of the island of Newfoundland....
in an attempt to establish friendly relations with the Beothuk; Buchan found them, but the encounter went badly and resulted in the deaths of two marines. John Peyton Jr. led another expedition to the lake in 1819 which also ended in tragedy, resulting in the death of the Beothuk headman Nonosbawsut
Nonosbawsut
Nonosbawsut was a leader of the Beothuk people. Family head of and partner of Demasduwit, born Newfoundland, Canada. Sometimes referred to as Chief Nonosbawsut, his stature within the last remaining Beothuk would better be described as that of a headman or leader.Nonosbawsut was one of a group of...
and the capture of Demasduwit
Demasduwit
Demasduit was a Beothuk woman, one of the last of her people on the island of Newfoundland, Canada.She was born near the end of the 18th century. The Beothuk were openly hostile to Europeans, and violent conflict between the two groups were common. The conflicts usually took more Beothuks than...
.
Economy and Resources
The interior of the island of Newfoundland became accessible on the completion of the Newfoundland RailwayNewfoundland Railway
The Newfoundland Railway was a railway which operated on the island of Newfoundland from 1898 to 1988. With a total track length of , it was the longest narrow gauge railway system in North America.-Early construction:...
, and the forest surrounding the lake attracted attention. The lake was surveyed in 1899 by Alex McCombie and by 1901 Lewis Miller had set up a logging operation on the shore near the site of Demasduwit's capture. A railway branch line to the town of Millertown
Millertown, Newfoundland and Labrador
Millertown is a town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The town had a population of 100 in the Canada 2006 Census.Millertown was founded in 1900 by Scottish lumber baron Lewis Miller.http://communityofmillertown.ca/...
was constructed, and in 1905 the Anglo-Newfoundland Development (AND) Company acquired a 99 year lease on timber and mineral rights for the land surrounding the lake.
Prospectors for the AND Company also discovered a substantial deposit of base metals on the north shore of the lake, and in 1926 the town of Buchans
Buchans, Newfoundland and Labrador
Buchans is a Canadian town located in the central part of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is situated on the northwest shore of Red Indian Lake on the Buchans River....
was established. Mining operations began the following year.
Hydro
A pulp and paper mill was constructed at Grand FallsGrand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador
Grand Falls-Windsor is a town of 13,558 people located in the central region of the island of Newfoundland in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The town is the largest in the central region, the fifth largest in the province, and is home to the annual Exploits Valley Salmon Festival...
, further downstream on the Exploits River. The mouth of Red Indian Lake was dammed, creating a vast storage reservoir for the power plant at the mill in Grand Falls.