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Jade. Opal. Diamond. Sapphire. Pearl. These gemstones are scattered in the forest on the west end of Narrow Hills Provincial Park. The Gem Lakes originated in an extensive system of tunnel valleys that formed when meltwater flowed beneath the glacial ice, causing erosion. The valleys filled with a deep layer of sand deposits. Large pieces of ice embedded in the sand melted, forming kettle depressions that filled with water. The lakes are small but deep. About 100 metres wide and a little over 200 metres long, Opal Lake is the smallest, yet it is over 20 metres deep. Although the lakes are very close together, they aren't connected by drainage channels; they are kept filled by water percolating up from the water table. The lakes are surrounded by a mixed forest of white and black spruce, jack pine, aspen, balsam fir and birch, with shrubs around the edges. A walking trail follows the hilly land between the lakes, providing some striking views, but what's really special is the color. The depth of the water, the sandy bottom, and the surrounding vegetation give the lakes the ability to reflect lustrous blues and greens that seem unreal. If you happen to walk the trails when the water is calm, the air is clear, and the sunlight is just right, these tiny lakes truly do glisten like gemstones. |
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The Churchill River, in many ways, embodies the essence of northern Saskatchewan. Its rich history dates to the glory years of northern exploration, voyageurs and fur brigades, and even further back to when aboriginal people painted pictographs on the river's rocky ledges and cliffs. Today it is the most accessible of the great northern rivers, tailor-made for fishing, camping, exploring and simply experiencing the beauty of nature. The Churchill River is essentially a series of island-studded lakes separated by rapids and waterfalls. For most of its length, the river flows through the aptly named Churchill River Upland Ecoregion, classic Precambrian Shield country with forested hills dotted with numerous clear lakes, massive outcroppings and cliffs of glacial sculpted bedrock. Only the extreme western stretch of the river, close to its headwaters near the Alberta border, lies outside the Shield. Above all, this is quintessential canoe country with endless possibilities for exploring the river itself as well as the mind-boggling network of northern waterways joining the Churchill. A river of many faces, the Churchill can be a wild whitewater ad-venture or a gentle journey along placid lakes. Paddling the Churchill is partly a connection to the past and partly a way to get in touch with the simple pleasures of nature's rhythms. The Churchill experience is freshly caught fish sizzling over a campfire, swimming in cool, clear water on a hot summer afternoon, or finding that perfect wilderness campsite where, at the end of the day, the tangerine sun dips into a quiet lake. It's where the loudest sounds are the thunder of rapids and the haunting cry of a loon. It's where, at least for the present, all seems well with the world. |
