Shuswap Lake is located in the Thompson Okanagan area central British Columbia Canada. The Shuswap Lake consists of four arms forming a shape similar to a slightly misshaped letter H. The four arms are called Salmon Arm (southwest), Anstey Arm (northeast), Seymour Arm (north), and the main lake or Shuswap (west). Shuswap Lake drains through Little Shuswap River into the Little Shuswap Lake which in turn drains into the Thompson River. It is fed by the Adams River, Shuswap River via Mara Lake and the Sicamous Channel, Scotch Creek, Anstey River, Ross Creek, Eagle River, Salmon River, Seymour River, Chase Creek and others.

Mara Lake is also considered to be part of the Shuswap Lake System as all arms of the Shuswap and Mara Lake act as one unit in regards to water level. The water level in the Shuswap Lake varies greatly typically rising dramatically in the late spring early summer then lowering through the rest of the summer and in to the fall.

The Shuswap Lake is a key location for the salmon From the Pacific Ocean. Many of the salmon return to the lake and it's tributaries to spawn and complete their life cycle. In particular the largest run of the sockeye salmon is a miraculous event turning the river red with the millions of returning fish. This happens once every four years from 2010 and onwards.

1. The City of Salmon Arm
2. The town of Sicamous
3. The town of Scotch Creek
4. The town of Celista
5. The village of Angelmont
6. The settlement of Anstey Arm
7. Shuswap Lake Estates Golf Course
8. Talking Rock Golf Course