| Sambaa Kʼe | |
| Other Name: | Trout Lake |
| Pushpin Map: | Canada Northwest Territories |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the Northwest Territories |
| Location: | Dehcho Region, Northwest Territories, Canada |
| Inflow: | Paradise River East, Island River, Moose River |
| Outflow: | Trout River |
| Basin Countries: | Canada |
| Cities: | Sambaa Kʼe |
| Reference: | [1] [2] |
Sambaa K’e (SALM-bah-kay;[3] South Slavey, place of trout[4]) is a lake in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories of Canada. The only settlement on its shores shares the same name; both were officially known as Trout Lake until 2016, when their names were changed to reflect local usage.[4]
Sambaa K’e lies at an elevation of [2] and is long and wide,[1] covering an area of .[2] It drains an area of ; major rivers that enter the lake include Paradise River East from the east, Island River from the south (next to the settlement), and Moose River from the north. Trout River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River, exits the lake from the northeast.[1]
Drinking water for the community of Sambaa K’e comes from the local water treatment facility, which draws water from the lake.[1] Known sources of lake water contamination include the local sewage lagoon, hazardous waste from a World War II-era U.S. Air Force outpost on the lake, and diesel leakage from the local power station.[5]
Fishing for lake trout, walleye, northern pike and Arctic grayling draws tourists to the lake.[6] [7] The local people also rely on the lake environment to support the hunting, trapping and fishing activities that comprise a major part of their livelihood. Common traditional food sources include moose, woodland caribou, grouse, porcupine, beaver, trout, pickerel, duck, and various berries.[5] A proposal to create a 10600km2 protected area including the Sambaa K’e watershed is currently under study.[3] [8]