Nemeiben Lake (Saskatchewan)
Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nemeiben Lake[1] is a large glacial lake in the Canadian Shield of Northern Saskatchewan, Canada. Nemeiben is Cree for "sucker". The lake, which is part of the Churchill River drainage basin, is surrounded by coniferous forest and has a subarctic climate.[2] Nemeiben Lake — the only community at the lake — is at the southern tip of Bell Bay.[3] A portion of Lac La Ronge Provincial Park runs along the lake's eastern shore.[4] Nemeiben Lake Campground is near the community on the eastern shore of Bell Bay.[5][6] Access to the lake and its amenities is from Highway 102.[7]
| Nemeiben Lake | |
|---|---|
NASA image of Lac la Ronge with Nemeiben Lake to the west (left) | |
  Nemeiben Lake Location in Saskatchewan  Nemeiben Lake Nemeiben Lake (Canada) | |
| Location | Northern Administration District, Saskatchewan |
| Coordinates | 55.3052°N 105.5076°W |
| Type | Glacial lake |
| Etymology | Sucker |
| Part of | Churchill River drainage basin |
| Miller Channel | |
River sources | Canadian Shield |
| Nemeiben Creek | |
| Basin countries | Canada |
Surface area | 15,112 ha (37,340 acres) |
| Max. depth | 129 m (423 ft) |
Shore length1 | 466 km (290 mi) |
Surface elevation | 372 m (1,220 ft) |
| Islands |
|
| Settlements | Nemeiben Lake |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
In 2015 and 2025, large wild fires swept the area destroying homes and burning the forest.
Description
Nemeiben Lake is the 42nd largest lake in Saskatchewan. It is an irregularly shaped lake with many islands, bays, and peninsulas. The lake sits at an elevation of 372 metres (1,220 ft),[8] covers an area of 15,112 hectares (37,340 acres), has a shoreline measuring 466 kilometres (290 mi), and is 129 metres (423 ft) deep. Miller Channel,[9] which flows in from Head Lake,[10] is its primary inflow.[11] Nemeiben Creek[12] flows out of Nemeiben Lake at the eastern end and into Lac la Ronge. Lac la Ronge is connected to the Churchill River via Rapid River.
Nemeiben Lake has one feature named through the geomemorial naming program. Bell Bay was named after Frank Harvergail Currie Bell.[13]
Forest fires
In 2015, a large forest fire swept through the area. It burnt large swathes of forest around the lake and destroyed many homes in the hamlet of Nemeiben Lake.[14][15] In 2025, the Pisew Fire approached the lake. It forced the evacuation of the residents and campers in the area. The community itself escaped the blaze but the fire scorched the surrounding forest and several cabins around the lake were burnt.[16]
Fish species
Fish commonly found in Nemeiben Lake include walleye, lake trout, northern pike, cisco, longnose sucker, white sucker, burbot, lake whitefish, and yellow perch.[17]