Lake Melville

Lake Melville is a large estuarine inlet in central Labrador, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, forming the inland extension of Hamilton Inlet. It functions as a tidal basin where riverine and marine waters mix and supports fisheries and coastal communities.

The inlet is used for local transportation, fishing and as a seasonal marine route; several communities, including Happy Valley-Goose Bay, are located along its shores and provide the principal access points. The area has long-standing use by Indigenous peoples and later European settlers for marine and river resources.

Geographically it sits on the Labrador coast and connects to the Atlantic Ocean via Hamilton Inlet, forming part of the Churchill River estuary system and lying inland from the Labrador Sea.

• Access point: Accessible from the town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, which serves as the main transport and service centre for visitors and local traffic.
• Estuarine environment: A tidal estuarine environment where freshwater from the Churchill River mixes with marine waters flowing through Hamilton Inlet, producing productive fisheries and varied habitats.

What to See #

• Hamilton Inlet connection: Hamilton Inlet forms the seaward connection, linking the estuarine waters to the Atlantic and acting as the primary marine channel into the system.
• Shoreline communities: Happy Valley-Goose Bay and other coastal communities lie on the shoreline, serving as regional service and transport hubs for the area.