Why Kootenay Lake Is a great place to Kayak!

Come kayaking with me from Kokanee Creek Provincial Park as I explore the West Arm of Kootenay Lake and share a little of what makes this lake so interesting. In this video, I talk about Kootenay Lake, how deep it gets, how the West Arm differs from the main body of the lake, and the estuary around Kokanee Creek. We also head out at a pretty smoky time of year, when the smoke from forest fires is affecting the air. Every late August and early September, kokanee salmon return from Kootenay Lake to the creek where they began their lives. Kokanee are landlocked sockeye salmon, isolated from the Pacific after the last Ice Age. At around three years old, they turn their brilliant spawning red and make their way back into the creek. The females create nests in the gravel called redds and can lay hundreds of eggs. After spawning, the adults die, returning nutrients to the creek and providing an important food source for bears and other wildlife. *A quick correction from the video:* When talking about the size of Kootenay Lake, I meant to say that it is the largest natural lake in **southern British Columbia**. I missed the word “southern” while I was talking! This was a smoky day , but it was still a beautiful paddle and a great chance to explore a part of Kootenay Lake that has a lot more going on than you might notice from shore. 🌲 Kootenay Jane Exploring the Kootenays and beyond by foot, motorcycle, kayak and whatever else gets me out there. #KootenayLake #KokaneeCreek #KootenayJane #KayakingBC #ExploreBC #Kootenays #KokaneeSalmon #nelsonbc