Catchment area 6,200 km (2,400 sq mi) Area 266 km² Mean depth 157 m Outflow location Quesnel River Cities Likely, British Columbia | Basin countries Canada Surface elevation 728 m Province British Columbia Inflow source Horsefly River | |
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Lake type glacial, fjord lake, oligotrophic Primary inflows Primary outflows Quesnel River (total 131m) Max. length 100 km (62 mi) from Likely to end of East arm, 48 km (30 mi) North Arm | ||
North arm of quesnel lake
Quesnel Lake is a glacial lake or fjord in British Columbia, Canada, and is the major tertiary of the Fraser River. With a maximum depth of 610 meters (although the true maximum depth is unknown), it is claimed to be the deepest fjord lake in the world, the fifth-deepest lake in BC, and the deepest lake in the Cariboo region.
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Map of Quesnel Lake, Cariboo F, BC, Canada
On August 4, 2014, the tailings pond of Mount Polley mine burst, spilling tailings into Polley Lake and Quesnel Lake and temporarily depriving residents of Likely, British Columbia, of fresh water for household use.
Forestry, mining and fishing are popular in this area. Quesnel Lake is also a trophy lake because live bait or barbed hooks are not allowed. Catch-and-release restrictions apply to Steelhead fish less than 10 cm or greater than 50cm. Rainbow trout, dolly varden and other lake trout are common.