Kalamalka Lake

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Kalamalka Lake (a.k.a. "Kal Lake") is a large lake in the Interior Plateau of southern central British Columbia, Canada, east of Okanagan Lake and approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of Vernon. The lake is named for the Okanagan (Okanogan U.S. spelling) Indian chief who occupied its northern shores.

At different times of the year the colour of the lake can range from cyan to indigo, in different spots at the same time, earning the lake the moniker "lake of a thousand colors". The colour of the water is derived from light scattering, caused by the precipitation of calcite (CaCO₃).

Video Kalamalka Lake

Hydrology

Kalamalka Lake is a glacial lake. The main inflow to Kalamalka Lake is from Wood Lake that is located to the south and connected by a canal at Oyama. The lake is drained by Vernon Creek which exits at the north end of the lake and passes through the city of Vernon and flows into the Okanagan Lake.

Maps Kalamalka Lake

Tourism

Kalamalka Lake is also a home to many great beaches. Kal beach and Cosens Bay Beach, which lies right in the heart of Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park, are two of the popular beaches developed on the shores of the lake. Some of the other beaches on this lake are Jade Bay Beach, Juniper Bay Beach, Kekuli Bay Beach, Kirkland Park Beach, and on the south end, Kaloya Regional Park Beach.

Two provincial parks are situated along Kalamalka Lake, Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park and Protected Area (4209 ha) and Kekuli Bay Provincial Park (57 ha).

There are many resorts on the lake, including Owl's Nest Resort (features the only marina on the lake), Klub Kal, and more. Kalamalka lake receives very little fishing pressure as the Lake is used mostly for recreational boating and water skiing.