The lake

The lake, also known as Sanctuary Lake, is the large body of water in the middle of the Clans' new territories.
==Description==
:The lake is irregular in shape and large enough that a cat needs two full days to circle it in a leisurely pace. It is bordered by marshes in parts of RiverClan territory, moorland that would become WindClan's territory, pine forest where ShadowClan lives, and woodlands where ThunderClan and SkyClan live. It contains an island where the Clans hold their Gatherings, with a fallen tree serving as a bridge to it. There are several Twoleg half-bridges scattered around the shoreline as well. Twolegs visit the lake often in greenleaf, swimming and sailing in boats. Around the lake are various Twoleg settlements: the horseplace with four buildings where Smoky lives, a greenleaf Twolegplace where Twolegs temporarily visit in thin-flapped dens, a Twolegplace in the pine forest where Jacques and Susan live, and nearby Twolegplaces. There are two shallow streams that feed into the lake; one between the pine forest and the oak and beech forest, and another stream between the forest and moor. A large river flows from the lake to the sun-drown-place. RiverClan makes their camp in an island formed by the river.
===Location history===
:Main articles: The Long Dry and The Great Storm
:A group of cats called the Ancients used to live around the lake many years before the Clans. Twolegs begin construction of what would later become the horseplace. Growing fearful of Twoleg development so close to the lakeshore, the Ancients eventually leave the lake for the mountains. Many seasons later, the four Clans arrive to the lake following the destruction of their former home by Twolegs. Brambleclaw, Squirrelflight, Crowfeather, Mistyfoot, and Tawnypelt scout the new territory. The Clans settle into their new territories: ThunderClan to the woods, ShadowClan to the pine forest, RiverClan to the marshes by the river, and WindClan to the moors. After Mudclaw's death created a tree bridge to the island, the Clans use the island for their monthly Gatherings. The Clans agree that cats can travel around the lake as long as they stay within two fox-lengths of the lakeshore, making it neutral territory.
:In leaf-bare, the lake occasionally freezes over with ice though its surface can still break; Flametail drowned after the ice broke while he was playing prey-stone with his Clanmates. When beavers built dams in the streams that feed into the lake, the lake shriveled up. In addition with a period of hot weather, the lake water quickly dissipated to a tiny pond and resulted in a drought. RiverClan grew protective of the lake water as it was their last source of fish and posted guards to monitor it from the other Clans. The other Clans sent water patrols to gather water for the rest of the Clans. While the former lakeshore was dry, the sections closer to the remaining water were thick with mud. The Clans later sent a joint-patrol to travel upstream to free the lake water from the beavers.
:During a severe storm, the river that feeds to the sun-drown-place flooded, causing the lake to severely flood. Several cats drowned in the floodwaters, and the Clans were forced to evacuate their camps. The flooding also affected the nearby Twolegplace. The flooding lasted for nearly two moons. When Darktail and his Kin took over ShadowClan and RiverClan, Darktail drowned his victims in the lake, resulting in Needletail's death. Darktail did the same to Berryheart and Beenose, but only Berryheart managed to survive. After Dawnpelt, Mistcloud, Birchbark, and Lioneye went missing after fleeing Darktail, Alderheart wondered if they also met the same fate. To stop Darktail, Onestar dragged Darktail into the lake in the midst of battle, drowning them both.
==Known deaths==
==Book mentions==
==Gallery==
===Map art===
The lake.map.png|The lake on the original map
The lake.twoleg map.png|The lake on the original Twoleg view map
The lake.map-RR.png|The lake on the reprinted map
The lake.twoleg map-RR.png|The lake on the reprinted Twoleg view map
The lake.Forest-Lake map.png|The lake on the forest-lake map
The lake.Forest-Lake map-Twoleg.png|The lake on the Twoleg view forest-lake map
The lake.SE-17.map.png|The lake on the Ivypool's Heart map
===Official art===
The lake.NP-3.png|The lake on the cover of Dawn
The lake.NP-3-RR.png|The lake on the reprinted cover of Dawn
The lake.SE-6.png|The lake in Tallstar's Revenge
The lake.WOC.png|The lake in Winds of Change
The lake.NP-4-RR.png|The lake on the reprinted cover of Starlight
The lake.NP-5-RR.png|The lake on the reprinted cover of Twilight
NP-6-FC.jpg|The lake on the cover of Sunset
The lake.NP-6-RR.png|The lake on the reprinted cover of Sunset
The lake.GA.png|The lake in Graystripe's Adventure
PO3-6-FC.jpg|The lake on the cover of Sunrise
OTS-1-FC.jpg|The lake on the cover of The Fourth Apprentice
OTS-1-FC-RR.jpg|The dried-up lake on the reprinted cover of The Fourth Apprentice
OTS-3-FC-RR.png|The frozen lake on the reprinted cover of Night Whispers
OTS-5-FC.jpg|The lake on the cover of The Forgotten Warrior
SE-7-FC.jpg|The flooded lake on the cover of Bramblestar's Storm
The island.SE-7.png|The lake in Bramblestar's Storm
VOS-3-FC.jpg|The lake on the cover of Shattered Sky
Darktail and Onestar.SE-15.png|The lake in Onestar's Confession
VOS-4-FC.png|The lake on the cover of Darkest Night
ASC-6-FC.png|The lake on the cover of Star
CS-1-A.jpg|The lake on the cover of The Elders' Quest
The lake.FG-1.png|The lake with boats on it in Secrets of the Clans
==Trivia==
===Author statements===
*According to Victoria Holmes, the lake is one-quarter of a mile in diameter.
===Continuity===
*In Secrets of the Clans, a 2007 field guide, each Clan has their territory by the lake introduced by a member of the respective Clan.
==External links==
* 
==See also==
*The lake territories
*The island
==Notes and references==
es:Lagofi:Järvipl:Jezioro
Category:Locations