Green Lake (Whistler)
Encyclopedia
Green Lake is the largest and most northerly lake
in the Resort Municipality of Whistler
, British Columbia
, Canada
. It is the source of the Green River
, a tributary of the Lillooet River
, and is fed by the River of Golden Dreams
, which issues from Alta Lake
, which is at the height of land dividing the Green River drainage from that of the Cheakamus River
to the south, which is a tributary of the Squamish River
. Also feeding Green Lake are Fitzsimmons Creek
, which originates in the valley above Whistler Village between Blackcomb
and Whistler Mountain
s, and Rainbow Creek, which descends from Rainbow Mountain via the Alpine Meadows subdivision. A former minor ski hill, Rainbow , is located midway between Alpine Meadows and Emerald Estates near the lake's western extremity.
The Whistler neighbourhoods of Alpine Meadows and Emerald Estates are located on the lake's southwestern and northwestern shores, respectively. The ghost town of Green River, known locally but incorrectly as Soo Valley (the Soo Valley is nearby but in a different drainage), was based around a lumber mill on a point on the east shore of the lake at its narrowest point, opposite Emeerald Estates; the porch of the old main building was the location of a locally famous group nude photo by squatter residents of the area in the 1970s, many of them now figures in the Whistler establishment.
Green Lake is 633 m in elevation and is approximately 1.2 km in length and averages about 650 m in width with an area in the range of 2.2 km².
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the Resort Municipality of Whistler
Whistler, British Columbia
Whistler is a Canadian resort town in the southern Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains in the province of British Columbia, Canada, approximately north of Vancouver...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is the source of the Green River
Green River (British Columbia)
The Green River is a tributary of the Lillooet River in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Approximately 25 kilometres in length, it begins at the outflow of Green Lake in Whistler and joins the Lillooet River a couple of kilometres above where the river flows into Lillooet Lake...
, a tributary of the Lillooet River
Lillooet River
The Lillooet River is a major river of the southern Coast Mountains of British Columbia. It begins at Silt Lake, on the southern edge of the Lillooet Crown Icecap about 80 kilometres northwest of Pemberton and about 85 kilometres northwest of Whistler...
, and is fed by the River of Golden Dreams
River of Golden Dreams
The River of Golden Dreams, officially Alta Creek, is a short river in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, connecting Alta Lake to Green Lake , which is drained by the Green River....
, which issues from Alta Lake
Alta Lake (British Columbia)
Alta Lake is a lake in the Resort Municipality of Whistler, British Columbia, Canada.Originally named Summit Lake, Alta Lake was renamed to avoid confusion with the many other Summit Lakes in British Columbia. The name is derived from the Spanish for "high up" or "upper". The lake's southern end...
, which is at the height of land dividing the Green River drainage from that of the Cheakamus River
Cheakamus River
The Cheakamus River is a tributary of the Squamish River, beginning on the west slopes of Outlier Peak in Garibaldi Provincial Park upstream from Cheakamus Lake on the southeastern outskirts of the resort area of Whistler. The river flows into Cheakamus Lake before exiting it and flowing...
to the south, which is a tributary of the Squamish River
Squamish River
The Squamish River is a short but very large river in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Its drainage basin is in size. The total length of the Squamish River is approximately .-Course:...
. Also feeding Green Lake are Fitzsimmons Creek
Fitzsimmons Creek
Fitzsimmons Creek is a large creek in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, having its origins at the Fitzsimmons Glacier in the Garibaldi Ranges of the Coast Mountains...
, which originates in the valley above Whistler Village between Blackcomb
Blackcomb Peak
Blackcomb Peak is a mountain located east of Whistler, British Columbia and forms the boundary between the Whistler Blackcomb ski resort and Garibaldi Provincial Park...
and Whistler Mountain
Whistler Mountain
Whistler Mountain is a mountain in the Fitzsimmons Range of the Pacific Ranges of the Coast Mountains, located on the northwestern edge of Garibaldi Provincial Park. It is the location of the Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort and the town of Whistler, British Columbia.The original name of the mountain...
s, and Rainbow Creek, which descends from Rainbow Mountain via the Alpine Meadows subdivision. A former minor ski hill, Rainbow , is located midway between Alpine Meadows and Emerald Estates near the lake's western extremity.
The Whistler neighbourhoods of Alpine Meadows and Emerald Estates are located on the lake's southwestern and northwestern shores, respectively. The ghost town of Green River, known locally but incorrectly as Soo Valley (the Soo Valley is nearby but in a different drainage), was based around a lumber mill on a point on the east shore of the lake at its narrowest point, opposite Emeerald Estates; the porch of the old main building was the location of a locally famous group nude photo by squatter residents of the area in the 1970s, many of them now figures in the Whistler establishment.
Green Lake is 633 m in elevation and is approximately 1.2 km in length and averages about 650 m in width with an area in the range of 2.2 km².