Barley Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barley Lake |
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 Barley Lake
Location in Quebec
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| Location | Lac-Pikauba, Charlevoix Regional County Municipality (MRC), Capitale-Nationale, Quebec, Canada |
| Coordinates | 47°48′35″N 70°40′07″W / 47.80972°N 70.66861°W |
| Lake type | Natural |
| Primary inflows | (Clockwise from the mouth)
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| Primary outflows | Barley River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 3.5 km (2.2 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.3 km (0.81 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 802 m (2,631 ft) |
| Islands | 4 |
Barley Lake (also known as Lac Barley in French) is a freshwater lake in the province of Quebec, Canada. It's located in a wild, unorganized area called Lac-Pikauba. This lake is part of the Charlevoix Regional County Municipality and the Capitale-Nationale region.
Barley Lake is the main source for the Barley River. It's a mountain lake, meaning it's quite high up. For a long time, the main activity around the lake was forestry, which means cutting down trees. Later, in the 1800s, people started visiting the area for fun and tourism. Because it's so high up, the lake is usually frozen from late October until early May. It's generally safe to walk on the ice from early December to April.
Where is Barley Lake?
Barley Lake is found in a forest area within the Lac-Pikauba territory. It's also part of a special wildlife area called Zec des Martres. The lake is about 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) long and sits at an altitude of 802 metres (2,631 ft) above sea level.
The Barley River flows out of the southwest side of the lake. From this exit point, the river travels about 10.0 kilometres (6.2 mi) west. Then, it joins the Malbaie River. The Malbaie River flows for about 108 kilometres (67 mi) before emptying into the St. Lawrence River at the town of La Malbaie.
Nearby Places
Barley Lake is located:
- About 3.9 kilometres (2.4 mi) southwest of a bay in Lac des Martres.
- About 43.8 kilometres (27.2 mi) west of the town center of La Malbaie.
- About 41.7 kilometres (25.9 mi) northwest of the town center of Baie-Saint-Paul.
How Barley Lake Got Its Name
The name "Barley Lake" has changed a few times over the years. In the past, people spelled it "Berly" or "Berley." The name "Barley" became official in 1927. In 1963, the Quebec Geography Commission approved this name.
The name comes from a man named Pierre Berly. He was an Indigenous person of Abenaki origin. Pierre Berly used to camp in the area. Near where the lake flows out, he had a special spot for catching trout, which was known as "Trou à Berly" (Berly's Hole).
A book from 1945, "The last of the coureurs de bois" by Damase Potvin, mentions "Lac Berley" and explains it was named after this old Abenaki man, Pierre Berley. Sometimes, you might hear other names for the lake, like "Lac Barley Croche" or "Lac Barley Rétréci," but "Barley Lake" is the official one.
