{{Short description|Lake in British Columbia, Canada}} {{Use Canadian English|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Columbia Lake | image = Columbia Lake sunset.JPG | caption = | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = British Columbia | coords = {{Coord|50|14|N|115|52|W|region:CA-BC_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}} | type = natural | inflow = | outflow = Columbia River | catchment = | basin_countries = Canada | length = {{convert|13.5|km|abbr=on}} | width = {{convert|2|km|abbr=on}} | area = {{convert|25.7|km2|abbr=on}} | depth = {{convert|2.9|m|abbr=on}} | max-depth = {{convert|5.2|m|abbr=on}} | volume = | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = {{convert|808|m|abbr=on}} | islands = | cities = | pushpin_map = Canada British Columbia | pushpin_map_alt = Location of lake in British Columbia | reference = <ref name=bathy /> }} [[File:Columbia Lake sign.JPG|left|thumb|200px|Overlooking Columbia Lake, near Canal Flats, B.C.]] '''Columbia Lake''' is the primary lake at the headwaters of the Columbia River, in British Columbia, Canada. It is fed by several small tributaries. The village of Canal Flats is located at the south end of the lake.

Columbia Lake is a fresh water lake located along Highway 93 and 95, between the centres of Canal Flats and Fairmont Hot Springs in British Columbia, Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/explore/rockies/kootenay/columbia.htm |title=Columbia Lake |publisher=Bcadventure.com |access-date=2010-07-22}}</ref> Its average July temperature of 18&nbsp;°C makes it the largest warm water lake in the East Kootenay. It has a mean depth of only {{convert|2.9|m}}, to a maximum of {{convert|5.2|m}}, with excellent water clarity as it enjoys a much smaller volume of boat traffic than its northern neighbour, Windermere Lake.<ref name=bathy>{{cite web|url=http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/fidq/downloadBathymetricMap.do?filename=00095901.pdf|title=Columbia Lake|publisher=Fish and Game Branch, Department of Recreation and Conservation, Government of British Columbia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/columbia_lk/ |title=Columbia Lake Provincial Park - BC Parks |publisher=Env.gov.bc.ca |access-date=2010-07-22}}</ref>

The Kootenay River, a major tributary of the Columbia, passes within a few thousand feet of the south end of the lake. In freshets the Kootenay, here already a large stream, sometimes overflows into Columbia Lake, and historically the Baillie-Grohman Canal connected the two bodies of water to facilitate the navigation of steamboats (although only three trips were ever made through it).<ref>{{cite book|last=Holbrook|first=Stewart|title=The Columbia: The Classic Portrait of the Great River of the Northwest|publisher=Comstock Editions|location=San Francisco, CA|year=1990| orig-year=1956|isbn=0-89174-051-1}}</ref>

==See also== *List of lakes of British Columbia

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/columbia_lk/index.html Website of the Columbia Lake Parks]

{{British Columbia hydrography}}

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Category:Columbia River Category:Lakes of British Columbia Category:Columbia Valley Category:Kootenay Land District

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