Kalamalka Lake is a large lake

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 Interior Plateau of southern central 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, east of Okanagan Lake

Okanagan Lake

Okanagan Lake is a large, deep lake in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. The lake is 135 km long, between 4 and 5 km wide, and has a surface area of 351 km². The lake's maximum depth is 232 meters near Grant Island...

 and approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of Vernon

Vernon, British Columbia

Vernon is a city in the south-central region of British Columbia, Canada. Named after Forbes George Vernon, a former MLA of British Columbia who helped found the famed Coldstream Ranch, the City of Vernon was incorporated on December 30, 1892. The City of Vernon has a population of 35,944 , while...

. The lake is named for the Okanagan

Okanagan

The Okanagan , also known as the Okanagan Valley and sometimes as Okanagan Country is a region located in the Canadian province of British Columbia defined by the basin of Okanagan Lake and the Canadian portion of the Okanagan River. As of 2009, the region's population is approximately 350,927. The...

 (Okanogan U.S. spelling) Indian chief who occupied its northern shores, although many believe (incorrectly) that it means (lake of) many colours in the Okanagan language.

At different times of the year the colour of the lake can range from cyan

Cyan

Cyan from , transliterated: kýanos, meaning "dark blue substance") may be used as the name of any of a number of colors in the blue/green range of the spectrum. In reference to the visible spectrum cyan is used to refer to the color obtained by mixing equal amounts of green and blue light or the...

 to indigo

Indigo

Indigo is a color named after the purple dye derived from the plant Indigofera tinctoria and related species. The color is placed on the electromagnetic spectrum between about 420 and 450 nm in wavelength, placing it between blue and violet...

, in different spots at the same time. The colour of the water is derived from light scattering, caused by the precipitation of calcite

Calcite

Calcite is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of calcium carbonate . The other polymorphs are the minerals aragonite and vaterite. Aragonite will change to calcite at 380-470°C, and vaterite is even less stable.-Properties:...

 (CaCO₃).

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

Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park and Protected Area

Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park and Protected Area is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada.Kalamalka Lake, named by National Geographic as one of the 10 most beautiful lakes in the world, is one of a handful of unique bodies of water known as "marl lakes"...

 and Kekuli Bay Provincial Park

Kekuli Bay Provincial Park

Kekuli Bay Provincial Park,formerly Kalamalka West Provincial Park, is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada, located on the west shore of Kalamalka Lake on BC Highway 97 south of Vernon.-References:**...

.

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

External links

• Natural Resources Canada. Atlas of Canada. Map of Kalamalka Lake