| Marsh Lake | |
|---|---|
 Marsh Lake, Yukon | |
  Marsh Lake | |
| Location | Yukon |
| Coordinates | 60°26′10″N134°15′02″W / 60.43611°N 134.25056°W /60.43611; -134.25056 |
| Primary inflows | Yukon River[citation needed] |
| Primary outflows | Yukon River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 30 km (19 mi) |
| Max. width | 4 km (2.5 mi) |
| Surface area | 96.3 km2 (37.2 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 12.8 m (42 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 2,147 ft (654 m) |
| Settlements | Marsh Lake |
Marsh Lake (Mud Lake) is a widening of theYukon River southeast ofWhitehorse,Yukon, Canada. It is over 30 kilometres (19 mi) long and ranges from three to four kilometres (2 to 2.5 mi) wide. It has an area of 96.3 km2 (37.2 sq mi) and a mean depth of 12.8 m (42 ft).[1] The co-ordinates of the lake are60°26′10″N134°15′02″W / 60.43611°N 134.25056°W /60.43611; -134.25056, and is 654 metres (2,147 ft) above sea level. The lake forms part of a chain of finger lakes, sometimes referred to as "The Southern Lakes", that form theheadwaters of theYukon River.
The community ofMarsh Lake, Yukon is located along the northern shores of the lake.
During theKlondike Gold Rush theYukon River system was heavily relied upon for transportation. The passes and railhead to the southeast left the prospectors atLake Bennett, the early ones had to build their own boats and float down the windy and dangerousLake Bennett,Tagish Lake and "Mud Lake" before beginning on theYukon River. A network ofsteamboats were soon developed and they began ferrying passengers to the rapids atCanyon City just outside what is now Whitehorse. These steamboats needed firewood, and one site was located on the southeast end of Marsh Lake, TheCrystal Palace allowed passengers some time off the boat and the crew time to replenish their fuel wood supplies.
The name was changed from Mud Lake to Marsh Lake byFrederick Schwatka, after the Yale University ProfessorOthniel Charles Marsh,[2] who contributed financially to Schwatka's mapping and exploration of Yukon.
DuringWorld War II, theAlaska Highway Project was routed along Marsh Lake, the military engineers were headquartered in Whitehorse. During a nice summer day the daughters of one of the officers decided to explore the swampy area off the northwest end of Marsh Lake, during their hike they discovered a large shallow sandy and warm bay, with a huge crescent of clean sand beach. It became cottage lots first for the military, then some local residents, and is still called Army Beach, Yukon.
Judas Creek was unsuccessfully prospected during the gold rush.Pyrite was discovered and a lot of work was conducted to discover the source of this sparkly mineral. When the eager and inexperienced miner located the source of thefool's gold, his disappointment was biblical and he named the creek Judas Creek.
During the late 1900s more people sought recreational land outside of Whitehorse, the government developed several subdivisions along Marsh Lakefor cabin lots. As utilities were introduced the area became more of a bedroom community for Whitehorse.