Which lake is the largest freshwater lake entirely within Canada?

Great Bear Lake is the largest freshwater lake entirely within Canada.

The lake lies in the Northwest Territories, north of the Arctic Circle, and covers about 31,153 square kilometres. Its irregular shoreline contains several large arms, including Keith, McTavish, McVicar, Dease, and Smith arms. The lake drains westward through the Great Bear River into the Mackenzie River.

Great Bear Lake is also notable for its cold climate and long winter ice cover. The community of Déline sits on its western shore, while the lake’s surrounding region is sparsely populated boreal and tundra country.

A common mix-up is with Great Slave Lake, also in the Northwest Territories. Great Slave Lake is deeper and is Canada’s second-largest lake by surface area, but Great Bear Lake is the largest lake located wholly within Canada.