Winnipeg Lake

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Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg
Lake Winnipeg map DE.png
Geographical location Manitoba (Canada)
Tributaries Red River of the North , Saskatchewan River , Winnipeg River , Dauphin River , Berens River , Bloodvein River , Poplar River , Pigeon River , Manigotagan River , Black River
Drain Nelson River
Places on the shore Gimli
Data
Coordinates 52 ° 46 ′  N , 97 ° 58 ′  W Coordinates: 52 ° 46 ′  N , 97 ° 58 ′  W
Winnipeg Lake (Manitoba)
Winnipeg Lake
Altitude above sea level 218  m
surface 24,420 km²
length 416 km
width 100 km
volume 284 km³dep1
scope 1858 km
Maximum depth 36 m
Middle deep 12 m
Catchment area 984,200 km²
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The Winnipegsee ( English Lake Winnipeg ) is with over 24,400 km² the largest lake in the Canadian province of Manitoba .

It is the third largest lake located entirely in Canada and one of the 15 largest in the world. The "Sea of ​​Manitoba" is drained by the Nelson River , which flows from its north end into Hudson Bay .

history

The land around Lake Winnipeg has been populated for thousands of years. Its name is derived from the Cree word wīnipēk (ᐐᓂᐯᐠ), which means "muddy water". The first European to visit the lake was probably the Englishman Henry Kelsey , who was in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company and toured the region from 1690 to 1692.

nature

The 428 km long Winnipeg Lake lies in the plains of the Canadian Shield quite exactly in the middle of Canada. Although the lake is located in the temperate climate zone, it experiences harsh winters due to the unhindered entry of cold air from the Canadian Arctic . The area around the lake is partly wooded, especially on the west bank; in the south the vast cornfields of the prairie join. Like its neighbors, Lakes Manitoba and Winnipegosis , it emerged from the vast prehistoric Agassiz Lake , which once stretched across large parts of central North America . This was created at the end of the last ice age by the thawing of the glaciers. About three millennia after it had reached its greatest extent, Lake Agassiz lost most of its water again and left behind a number of smaller lakes, of which Lake Winnipeg is the largest with 24,420 km².

It is noteworthy that Lake Winnipeg, which is 216 m above sea level, is only shallow for a lake of its size: the maximum depth is 36 m, the middle 12 m. There are numerous islands in the lake, among which the largest (from south to north) are Hecla, Black, Berens and Reindeer . The main tributaries of Lake Winnipeg are the Red River of the North , Saskatchewan River (via Cedar Lake ), the Winnipeg River and the Dauphin River . Overall, the lake has a catchment area of 984,200 km².

Jenpeg hydropower plant

The Jenpeg hydropower plant is located at the exit of the lake ( ). The Jenpeg Generating Station was built from 1972 to 1979 and is operated by Manitoba Hydro . The hydropower plant receives water from Lake Winnipeg via the 2 Mile Channel , the 8 Mile Channel and the Ominawin Channel . The Winnipegsee is dammed 4 to 12.5 m in addition and its discharge regulated. The altitude is kept at 214–215 m above sea ​​level in winter and at 218 m above sea ​​level in summer. More water flows in in summer than in winter, but power consumption is reversed.

The hydropower plant has six turbines, each with an output of 16 MW , a total of 97 MW; another source gives the total output as 132 MW. The turbines generate an annual amount of energy of 0.9 TWh . The turbines were supplied by the Russian company HydroProject (now part of the RusHydro company ). The hydraulic drop height varies between 4 and 12.5 m, with electricity being generated most effectively at 7.32 m. The barrier structure , an earth and stone embankment dam, is 24 m high above the river bed and 39 m above its foundation. It is 626 m long and has a volume of 573,000 m³. The 600 m long and 15 m high Kiskitto Dam was needed as an auxiliary structure in order to be able to dam the lake .

From the hydroelectric power station, the water flows over the Nelson River to Hudson Bay. The flood discharge can discharge a water volume of 4361 m³ / s. The lake area is around 25,000 km² (24,420 or 25,413 km²). According to the relevant sources, the stowage volume is 31,790 million m³.

Individual evidence

  1. a b c Water power Yearbook 2004
  2. ^ Announcement on the takeover of October 22, 2010, accessed on December 7, 2013.

Web links

Commons : Lake Winnipeg  - Collection of Images, Videos, and Audio Files