Great Slave Lake

Great Slave Lake, Canada’s deepest (614 meters) and North America’s second-largest, lies in the Northwest Territories’ boreal wilderness. Named for the indigenous Dene (formerly called "Slaves" by Cree rivals), its frigid waters hide shipwrecks and gold rush lore. A vital corridor for the Dene and Métis, it hosts ice roads in winter and migratory birds in summer. Though rich in zinc and diamonds, its fragile ecosystem faces threats from mining and climate shifts. A starkly beautiful relic of glacial carving, it epitomizes the Arctic’s raw power.