| Language of origin | Finnish language |
| Feature Type: | Lake - Inland body of standing water. |
| Status: | Official |
| Other Names: | Hanson Lake |
| Name Authority: | BC Geographical Names Office |
| Relative Location: | E side Kootenay River, N of Fort Steele, Kootenay Land District |
| Latitude-Longitude: | 49°46'43"N, 115°44'10"W at the approximate centre of this feature. |
| Datum: | WGS84 |
| NTS Map: | 82G/13 |
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Origin Notes and History:
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Hanson Lake adopted 14 January 1954 on 82G/13. Name changed to Wasa Lake 27 July 1964 on 82G/NW to conform to entrenched local usage. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
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Labelled "Hansen Lake" on BC map 1EM, 1915 and on 1936 edition of map 4C, Cranbrook. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
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"Hansen Lake" was named after early settler Nels Hansen, who called his property Wasa after his early home, the western Finland coastal community of Vasa. The BC Forest Service, Nelson, advised that except for a few long-time residents, everyone calls this Wasa Lake, not Hanson (or Hansen) Lake. (letter 22 July 1955, file C.2.26) Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
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Named in association with Wasa (community), which is named after the Finnish city, Vaasa, a reference to the House of Vasa, which was the reigning royal family at the time the city was founded in 1606. Source: BC place name cards & correspondence, and/or research by BC Chief Geographer & Geographical Names Office staff. |