Comprehensive surveys of the delta region and Lake Athabasca have not been carried out.

The islands that extend from Fort Chipewyan to the Old Fort River were formed as a result of wave action (MRBC 1981). Its surface area of 7,850 square kilometers and maximum depth of 124 meters make it the largest and deepest lake in both Alberta and Saskatchewan provinces. water levels, camp grounds/boat launches, etc. The North shore is rugged and is comprised of crystalline Archean rocks. Miscellaneous inflows and direct runoff from the catchment area provide the final 18% of the total inflow (Neill and Evans 1979). As well, the William, McFarlane and Archibald rivers deposit large amounts of sand at their mouths, contributing to the beaches along the south shore of the lake. 1971. For. by PADPG for Govt. The average harvest of northern pike from 1935/36 to 1942/43 was 3,343 kg/year (1% of the total catch). It is expected that, if runoff increases, vegetation in the parts of the delta affected by the weirs will return to their "natural" condition as it was prior to construction of the Bennett Dam. 1981. After the temporary control structure was built on Chenal des Quatre Fourches in the fall of 1971, the levels of lakes Athabasca (FIGURE 3), Claire and Mamawi increased.

1973. The volume of water leaving Lake Athabasca via Rivière des Rochers, Revillon Coupé and Chenal des Quatre Fourches is partly dependent on the water level in the Peace River. The report concluded that average summer maximum lake levels, simulated with the weirs in place, matched the simulated natural levels (without Bennett Dam or weirs) within 0.1 m. Simulated minimum annual water levels with weirs in place, however, were higher than simulated natural levels by 0.6 m and simulated mean annual levels were higher by 0.4 m. The mean amplitude of annual levels with the weirs in place is about 0.6 m smaller than under natural conditions. is out of date. Rec. Large areas of Precambrian Shield are located north of Lake Athabasca and the Fond du Lac River. Envir. The area immediately north of the lake is mainly rockland, and soils in the remainder of the Saskatchewan portion of the drainage basin are excessively stony Humo-ferric Podzols with rock outcroppings (Natl. The Chipewyan and Cree then became the two dominant groups trading furs at Fort Chipewyan (McCormack 1988). Muskrat populations in the delta were estimated to be between 200,000 and 2,000,000 animals prior to construction of the Bennett Dam. During fall and winter, more of the outflow originates from the main body of the lake. Other important bird species that inhabit the region include Sandhill Crane, Ring-billed Gull, Common Tern, Greater Yellowlegs, Wilson's Phalarope, Franklin's Gull, Eared Grebe, Western Grebe, Long-billed Marsh Wren, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Osprey, Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon (Can. Minerals present in the Lake Athabasca region include gypsum, granite, gold and uranium. Evans. Can., Ottawa. Alberta Recreation and Parks. Marine Sci. Ecological reserves are maintained in their natural state and are used for nature appreciation, photography and wildlife viewing (Alta. Can., Alta., BC, Sask., NWT, YT. Lake Athabasca is not easily accessible by road. 1947[a]. Atlas Can. The name in the Dene language originally referred only to the large delta formed by the confluence of the Athabasca River at the southwest corner of the lake. North of the lake lies the Boreal Northlands, where trembling aspen and white spruce are the dominant trees (Strong and Leggat 1981). Alberta Native Affairs. Lake Athabasca contains 23 species of fish, with a world record lake trout of 46.3 kg (102 lb) caught from its depths in 1961 by means of a gillnet. Can., Alta. [14], On October 31, 2013, one of Obed Mountain coal mine's pits failed, and from between 600 million to a billion liters of slurry poured into the Plante and Apetowun Creeks. Lake Athabasca. Resour. While the last mine closed in the 1980s, the effects of mining operations had already heavily contaminated the northern shores. Oil Sands Envir. On recommendation of the Peace-Athabasca Delta Project Group, the three governments signed the Peace-Athabasca Delta Implementation Agreement. 1986. The word describes open areas such as lakes and swamps where willows, reeds and grasses grow (Holmgren and Holmgren 1976). Press, Edmonton, in assoc. The average whitefish harvest from 1935/36 to 1942/43 was 58,000 kg/year (18% of the total catch). Resour., Fish Wild. The southern shore has great beaches and sand dunes that are derived from the Athabasca basin. One of the oldest European settlements in Alberta, Fort Chipewyan, is found on the West side of the lake. Trembling aspen and balsam poplar are the major tree species. En. There is also a large oil sands mining operation nearby, which is suspected to have increased the pollution levels in the lake. 5:195-211.

[12][13], Uranium and gold mining along the northern shore resulted in the birth of Uranium City, Saskatchewan, which was home to mine workers and their families. This river drains Wollaston Lake, Saskatchewan and a large area of Precambrian Shield in the eastern part of the drainage basin (FIGURE 1). Canada, Department of Fisheries and the Environment. In 1802 and 1815, two Hudson's Bay Company posts were built nearby. Surv., Edmonton. In 1974, muskrat numbers peaked in response to higher water levels, which were caused by precipitation levels that were higher than those in previous years. Coal is extracted at several mines in the Hinton area of Alberta and there are two oil sands mining and upgrading plants north of Fort McMurray (Noton 1989). Waterfowl habitat program. -----. The amphipod Pontoporeia affinis was the dominant benthic organism collected and the opossum shrimp Mysis relicta was rare. for Can. Its most easterly point is the also the mouth of the Fond du Lac River. The elevation of Lake Athabasca has been monitored at Fort Chipewyan for various periods since 1930, at Goldfields from 1942 to 1956, and at Crackingstone Point (on the western tip of Cracking­stone Peninsula) since 1956. Northwest of Lesser Slave Lake, there are large areas of predominantly Gray Luvisols or Organic Fibrisols.