William, who was a Parliamentary writer and later editor of Canada's national newspaper the 'Globe & Mail'.

The lake lies roughly south-west to north-east, a distance of 22.5 km (14.0 mi).

Another arm forms a 5 km (3.1 mi) spike leading south-east from Northeast Bay.

The Sturgeon River is another main source, and flows into the lake at the spike-shaped arm at the south-eastern end.

The CN transcontinental main line crosses the lake at its south-eastern arm near Robinson, travels inland, then continues along the south-west corner of the lake past Ghost River and McDougall Mills.