Yellowhead Lake is an irregularly shaped 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,...

 that is located about 3.7 km southwest of Yellowhead Pass

Yellowhead Pass

The Yellowhead Pass is a mountain pass across the Continental Divide of the Canadian Rockies. It is located on the border between the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, and lies within Jasper National Park and Mount Robson Provincial Park....

 within the boundaries of Mount Robson Provincial Park

Mount Robson Provincial Park

Mount Robson Provincial Park is a large provincial park in the Canadian Rockies with an area of 2,249 km². The park is located entirely within British Columbia, bordering Jasper National Park in Alberta. The B.C. legislature created the park in 1913, the same year as the first ascent of Mount...

. It is on the lower reaches of Yellowhead Creek, a large creek that flows into the upper Fraser River

Fraser River

The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...

 above Moose Lake

Moose Lake (British Columbia)

Moose Lake is the only lake along the course of the Fraser River. It is located along the upper reaches of the river about 3.9 km downstream from the mouth of the Moose River.- Characteristics :...

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Characteristics

Yellowhead Lake is a very odd shaped lake. It is about 5.6 km long & its width varies depending on where you are. The lake is fed at its northeast end by Yellowhead Creek, which flows through several swamps above the lake before entering it. About ¼ of the way down its southern shore, its only other named tributary, swift-flowing Rockingham Creek enters the lake. Yellowhead Creek exits the lake at its southwestern end & soon reaches the Fraser after passing under the Yellowhead Highway

Yellowhead Highway

The Yellowhead Highway is a major east-west highway connecting the four western Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Although part of the Trans-Canada Highway system, the highway should not be confused with the more southerly, originally-designated...

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Naming

The lake was first referred to as Cranberry Lake by HBC

HBC

- Medical terminology :*Hepatitis B virus#Genome, the Hepatitis B core protein*Hemoglobin C*Hormonal contraception , hormonal methods for preventing pregnancy- Companies and organizations :...

 governor George Simpson

George Simpson (administrator)

Sir George Simpson was a Scots-Quebecer and employee of the Hudson's Bay Company . His title was Governor-in-Chief of Rupert's Land and administrator over the Northwest Territories and Columbia Department in British North America from 1821 to 1860.-Early years:George Simpson was born in Dingwall,...

 as he made his way toward Athabasca Pass

Athabasca Pass

Athabasca Pass is a high mountain pass in the Canadian Rockies. It is the headwaters of the Whirlpool River, a tributary of the Athabasca River.The pass lies between Mount Brown and McGillivray Ridge...

 in 1824. In 1863, the lake was called Buffalo Dung Lake by Overlanders in search of gold

Gold

Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...

. It was in 1872 that the lake was given its present name, as suggested by George Grant

George Grant

George Grant may refer to:*George A. Grant, National Park Service photographer 1929-1954*George Davidson Grant , Canadian politician*George F...

. He named it after the nearby pass.