Kisis Channel

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Kisis Channel
Buffalo Narrows channel
Buffalo Narrows Bridge crossing Kisis Channel
Kisis Channel is located in Saskatchewan
Kisis Channel
Location of channel in Saskatchewan
Kisis Channel is located in Canada
Kisis Channel
Kisis Channel (Canada)
Nickname(s)The Narrows
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceSaskatchewan
Physical characteristics
SourcePeter Pond Lake
 • locationBuffalo Narrows
 • coordinates55°49′56″N 108°27′48″W / 55.8321°N 108.4634°W / 55.8321; -108.4634
 • elevation421 km (262 mi)
MouthChurchill Lake
 • location
Buffalo Narrows
 • coordinates
55°51′18″N 108°28′21″W / 55.8549°N 108.4725°W / 55.8549; -108.4725
 • elevation
421 km (262 mi)
Length2.8 km (1.7 mi)
Basin features
River systemChurchill River

Kisis Channel,[1] also known as Buffalo Narrows channel and the Narrows, is a strait in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan that connects Peter Pond Lake to Churchill Lake in the Churchill River drainage basin. The channel is in the Boreal Shield Ecozone with a surrounding landscape of boreal forest. The channel was used by Indigenous hunters as a bottleneck when hunting wood buffalo and was an important point on early fur trade and exploration routes. It runs through the community of Buffalo Narrows and is crossed by Highway 155.[2]

History

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John Franklin's 1819–1820 map with the location of Kisis Channel marked as "July 1st" between Clear Lake (now Churchill Lake) and Buffalo Lake (now Peter Pond Lake)

The Kisis Channel connects Peter Pond and Churchill Lakes. Churchill Lake is the source of the Churchill River. On either side of the channel, narrowing peninsulas extend towards the channel. Indigenous hunters used this narrowing of the land when hunting wood buffalo to create a bottleneck, essentially corralling the buffalo.[3]

Beginning in the 1790s, fur trading posts were set up in the area as the channel was along an important fur trading route from the Hudson Bay to the Methye Portage. The Methye Portage connected the Hudson Bay drainage basin to the Arctic basins.[4][5]

Early notable explorers, including Peter Pond[6] and John Franklin, traversed the narrows during their expeditions. Franklin mapped the area in his first expedition (1819–1820) marking his crossing of the narrows on "July 1st".[7]

Highway access

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In the summer of 1957, Buffalo Narrows Road was completed to the south side of Kisis Channel from Green Lake providing a road link to the rest of the province. A year-round ferry service was established for vehicles to cross the channel to Buffalo Narrows. The channel was able to remain ice-free due to a high pressure aeration system built at the bottom of the channel that forced warm water up. Buffalo Narrows Road was designated as provincial Highway 155 in August 1963. Buffalo Narrows Bridge built was built in 1980 replacing the ferry service.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kisis Channel". Canadian Geographical Names Database. Government of Canada. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  2. ^ "North - Buffalo Narrows - Hwy 155". Tourism Saskatchewan. Government of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  3. ^ "Buffalo Narrows". Cameco. Cameco Corp. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  4. ^ Welch, Deborah; Payne, Michael (19 September 2012). "La Loche". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  5. ^ McLennan, David. "Buffalo Narrows". Indigenous Saskatchewan Encyclopedia. University of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  6. ^ Robinson, J. Lewis. "History of Mackenzie River". Britannica. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  7. ^ Dewhirst, Jonathan. "The Franklin Coppermine Expedition North-East Canada, 1819–22". Britain's Small Forgotten Wars. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  8. ^ Dunfield, H. C. "Northernmost Highway Serves Historic Frontier Area". Star-Phoenix. Saskatoon. pp. 8 (1963-08-20).
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Media related to Kisis Channel at Wikimedia Commons