| The Narrows | |
| Pushpin Map: | Canada Manitoba |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of The Narrows in Manitoba |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Canada |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | Interlake |
| Subdivision Type3: | Census Division |
| Subdivision Name3: | No. 18 |
| Subdivision Type4: | Rural municipality |
| Subdivision Name4: | West Interlake |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Timezone: | CST |
| Utc Offset: | −6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −5 |
| Coordinates: | 51.0817°N -98.7794°W |
| Area Code: | 204 |
| Blank1 Name: | NTS Map |
| Blank1 Info: | 062O02 |
| Blank2 Name: | GNBC Code |
| Blank2 Info: | GBBNR |
The Narrows is an unincorporated community in the Interlake region of Manitoba, Canada, situated on the northern part of Lake Manitoba within the Municipality of West Interlake.
It is notable as the only place where Lake Manitoba can be crossed by bridge, the Lake Manitoba Narrows Bridge, which was built in the late 1960s.[1]
There are two Lake St. Martin First Nation reserves (The Narrows 49 and Narrows 49 A) located in the surrounding areas.
A site on the west side of The Narrows is believed to the only thunderbird nest in western Manitoba, although several occur in eastern Manitoba.[2]
Itself a narrow stretch of water where southern and northern basins come together at Lake Manitoba, The Narrows is believed to be where inspiration for the province's name came.
First Nations groups in the area knew an island to the north as Manitou Island. In stormy weather, the wind and waves crashing on the limestone cliffs on the north end of the island created an eerie drumming sound, which the Indigenous Peoples believed to be the sound of a huge drum beaten by Manitou, the Great Spirit.[3]
As such, Indigenous people knew these waters as or , Cree for the 'narrows of the Great Spirit' or 'the Spirits’ Narrows'.[4] [5]
In 1738, the lake was named lac des Prairies by La Vérendrye. In 1868, Thomas Spence of Portage la Prairie attempted to create a republic outside the District of Assiniboia to be named the Republic of Manitobah. While his republic was short-lived, a year later when he joined Louis Riel’s council at Fort Garry, Spence’s choice was selected as the name of the new province, and the letter 'H' was dropped.
In 1896, a post office was opened at a location on 14-24-10W.
The post office service was terminated in 1958. A school district was located on SE 24-24-10W as well.