Lac Seul

Lac Seul, 1658 km², elev 357 m, 55 m deep, located in northwestern Ontario, 50 km N of Dryden, drains W via the English and Winnipeg rivers to Lk Winnipeg. It appears as "Lake Alone" - a literal translation of its present French name - on Peter Pond's map of 1784. The Cree, who inhabited the area until the mid-18th century, were gradually displaced by the Ojibwa. Descendants of the latter now occupy the Lac Seul Reserve adjacent to the towns of Hudson and Sioux Lookout. Although the lake was off the main fur-trade routes, both the HBC and NWC were active in the area, and the former continues to be represented at Lac Seul Post. The lake supports a small commercial fishery, but present resource development is concentrated in the forest industry. The unspoiled environment, with its abundant fish and wildlife, also makes this one of the prime outdoor recreation areas in northwestern Ontario. The natural capacity of Lac Seul is augmented by the diversion of water from the Albany River watershed, allowing hydroelectric stations at Ear Falls, where the English R leaves the lake, and Manitou Falls, 30 km downstream, to generate 90 600 kW of electricity.