Babine Lake

Infobox lake
lake_name = Babine Lake
image_lake = Babine Lake with huts (321870589).jpg
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = British Columbia
coords = coord|54|45|N|126|00|W|region:CA-BC_type:waterbody|display=inline,title
type =
inflow =
outflow = Babine River
catchment =
basin_countries = Canada
length = 153 km (95 mi)
width = 10 km (6 mi)
area =
depth =
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = 711 m (2,333 ft)
islands =
cities =

Babine Lake is the longest natural lake in British Columbia, Canada.

Babine Lake is located northeast of the town of Burns Lake in central British Columbia, some 177 km (110 mi) west northwest of the city of Prince George. It is 153 km (95 mi) long, from 2 km (1 mi) to 10 km (6 mi) wide, and has a net area of 479 km² (185 mi²) and a total area of 495 km² (191 mi²). It lies at the elevation of 711 m (2,333 ft).

It is drained to the northwest by the Babine River, a tributary of the Skeena River.

There are several provincial parks on Babine Lake:
* Babine Lake Marine Provincial Park
** Pendleton Bay site
** Smithers Landing site
* Topley Landing Provincial Park
* Red Bluff Provincial Park

Babine Portage

Babine Portage is a campsite located about 12 km north of the Portage Yekooche Reserve along a gravel road, on the west end of Babine Lake. The name originates from when the site was used as an entry point for canoes portaging to the Hudson's Bay Company post.

In the past, there were five cabins on the east side of the creek and seven on the west side, but in 2003, all but three were ignited by grass fires and burned down.

Although people from Tache, Fort St. James, and Prince George visit the area, it is mostly used by members of Yekooche First Nation who spend most of the summer there before returning to Portage Reserve in the fall. The lake provides them with salmon and kokanee, while moose, deer and bear hunting can be done nearby around Salt Lake, Frank's Meadow, and a lagoon west of the camp. People also fish at 4 Mile and 6 Mile Creek, east of the camp near Quarter Island. People from Yekooche rely on their catch from Babine Portage for winter food.

An important local tradition at Babine Portage involves "t'es'ing" up first-time visitors, which means to rub coal on their cheeks to ward off bad weather at the camp.

References

* [http://atlas.gc.ca/site/english/learningresources/facts/lakes.html#britishcolumbia The Atlas of Canada (atlas.gc.ca), largest lakes in British Columbia]
* [http://www.bartleby.com/69/86/B00086.html Babine Lake entry at The Columbia Gazetteer of North America: 2000.]