| Old Wives Lake | |
|---|---|
 Old Wives Lake, as seen from space. | |
  Old Wives Lake Location in Saskatchewan  Old Wives Lake Old Wives Lake (Canada) | |
| Location | Saskatchewan |
| Coordinates | 50°06′00″N 106°00′02″W / 50.10000°N 106.00056°W[1] |
| Type | Endorheic, salt lake |
| Primary inflows | Wood River |
| Primary outflows | None |
| Catchment area | 16,850 km2 (6,510 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface elevation | 663 m (2,175 ft) |
| Islands |
|
| References | [1] |
Old Wives Lake is a shallow endorheic salt lake in south central Saskatchewan, Canada, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) south-west of Moose Jaw. The lake is fed by the Wood River but seasonal water relatively flattened the terrain, and as such results in significant mudflats. A Migratory Bird Sanctuary was established at the lake on March 9, 1925. This lake, in conjunction with Reed Lake and Chaplin Lake, forms a site of hemispheric importance in the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. It was designated in April 1997, and is "one of the most important inland sites for migratory birds in North America".[2][3] At the north-eastern part of the lake is the Isle of Bays Wildlife Refuge (50°07′00″N 105°55′02″W / 50.1167°N 105.9172501°W).[4] The wildlife refuge encompasses the entirety of Isle of Bays.
At various times during the lake's human history, it has attracted interest from several First Nations tribes, duck hunters, military trainers, sodium sulfate producers, conservationists, and birdwatchers.[5]
Nearby communities include Old Wives and Mossbank. Access to the lake is from Highway 363. The Old Wives Lake is a popular destination for birdwatchers; a 2.4-kilometre (1.5 mi) walking trail has been constructed along the lake's south shore, along with viewing and picnic areas.[6]
- ^ a b "Old Wives Lake". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ "Saskatchewan Migratory Bird Sanctuary Facts". Environment Canada. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
- ^ "Chaplin Old Wives Reed Lakes". Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
- ^ "Isle of Bays Wildlife Refuge". Canadian Geographical Names Database. Government of Canada. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Old Wives Lake Watershed".
- ^ "Old Wives Lake Nature Area". Mossbank. Town of Mossbank. Retrieved 21 January 2023.