Waterways of the Canadian Shield

Geological processes, from the powerful movement of large blocks of the Earth's crust (called plates) to the erosional action of the glaciers, created our natural waterways and lakes. They were extensively used by our ancestors as transportation routes (or 'highways').

Pictographs

At least 23 reported sites from Uranium City to The Pas contain pictographs, drawn by our ancestors up to a thousand years ago. (Courtesy of D. Corrigan, GSC 2005-243a (image-left); Artist: J. Pennanen (image-right))

This pictograph is one of more than 70 that are painted on rock faces that border many of the lakes along our 'water highway' (Courtesy of D. Corrigan, GSC 2005-243b)

Natural Highways

Northern rivers and lakes attract numerous tourists, anglers, and canoeists in the summer and become highways in the winter. The deep channels of our great rivers were cut by glacial runoff. These rivers are still used as 'water highways' today.

Waterways are a means of access to our continental interior (the Canadian Shield). (Courtesy of Natural Resources Canada)

Canoeing. (Courtesy of D.E. Walker, Tourism Saskatchewan)

Trading routes. (Courtesy of D.E. Walker, Tourism Saskatchewan)

Highways of the past - "The Copper Trail" (Courtesy of Saskatchewan Archives R-B3561-1)

• water from Wollaston Lake drains in two directions?