Great Lake Lavoxen
(grayt lake LAH-voks-en)
Overview
A very large inland body of fresh water located north east of settled Dosjorya.
Characteristics
Great Lake Lavoxen covers a vast area of land, roughly equivalent to the grasslands area between the Great Achton River and the Grashen River. The lake has an unknown depth, though is believed to be hundreds of feet deep near its center. Located in the mountains, its waters are typically cold but it does not freeze over in winter. A deep layer of silt and debris sits on its bottom near shore, easily stirred up by fish and those who wish to swim in the lake.
Many rivers emerge from Great Lake Lavoxen, including the Great Achton and the Great Lekmeton. A large percentage of the water that flows into the ocean from the Great Achton originates in Great Lake Lavoxen. Rain water, snow melt, and an underground aquafer all help to maintain the lake's water level.
Origins
It is very likely that a glacial event prior to recorded history or the evolution of the Gendirlo is the force that carved Great Lake Lavoxen into the ground. If this were the case, it is unknown if it was surrounded by mountains at that point or if the land rose up later.
Most Gendirl researchers point to the gods as the creators of this vast lake. Located on Lavoxen's north east shore is the Stone Shrine, the housing of the collapsed physical form of the Maker of Gods, whose element is water. While this shrine, and others, were built by early Gendirlo to celebrate and honor the gods' influences during the Age of Legends, none of the sites chosen for shrines were picked without careful thought or input from their gods.
One physical piece of knowledge they use to prove their theory is that Great Lake Lavoxen sits higher in elevation than most of the valleys around it, and the lake's waters are restrained by walls of rock in places. If not for the influence of the gods, specifically the Maker, Lavoxen's waters would one day erode through their walls and send floods through the mountains until its waters ran low or out. Such an event would cause great loss of life and would see the Great Achton River run dry.
Innen researchers, while in the minority, state this may still happen one day, though the risk to near by areas remains low.
by Jen Wright
Entry for WorldEmber 2020
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