Bourgeois Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bourgeois Lake |
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Watershed of Saint-Maurice River
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 Bourgeois Lake
Location in Quebec
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| Location | La Tuque |
| Coordinates | 48°38′14″N 75°00′52″W / 48.63722°N 75.01444°W |
| Type | Lake of dam |
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| Primary outflows | Toussaint Lake |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 16.3 kilometres (10.1 mi) |
| Max. width | 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 402 metres (1,319 ft) |
Bourgeois Lake is a freshwater lake in Quebec, Canada. It's located in the north-central part of the huge Gouin Reservoir, near the town of La Tuque.
The lake stretches across two areas called Lemay and Toussaint. People love visiting the lake for fun activities like boating and fishing. Logging is also an important activity in this area.
Forest roads on the north side help people get to the lake. These roads connect to the village of Obedjiwan.
The lake usually freezes over from mid-November to late April. It's generally safe to walk or drive on the ice from early December to late March. The water level can change a lot, especially in late winter, because of how water is managed at the Gouin Dam.
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How Bourgeois Lake Was Formed
Before 1916, Bourgeois Lake was much smaller. But then, the La Loutre Dam was built. This created the big Gouin Reservoir.
In 1946, the water level was raised again when the Gouin Dam was further developed. This made Bourgeois Lake the size and shape it is today.
Where is Bourgeois Lake?
Bourgeois Lake is fed by water from several places. These include Du Mâle Lake to the west, Thibodeau Bay to the south, and Aiapew Bay in the north.
A stream called De la Rencontre Creek flows from the north into Du Mâle Lake. This happens close to where Du Mâle Lake connects to Bourgeois Lake.
Size and Shape
Bourgeois Lake is about 16.3 kilometres (10.1 mi) long from north to south. It stretches from the narrow Aiapew Bay in the north (which is 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) long) down to Wacihiskacik Bay in the south.
There are two long pieces of land, called peninsulas, that shape the lake. One stretches north for 16.4 kilometres (10.2 mi). It separates the east side of Plamondon Bay from Bourgeois Lake.
Another peninsula stretches south for 10.1 kilometres (6.3 mi). It separates the east side of De la Rencontre Creek from Bourgeois Bay. These two peninsulas almost touch, creating a narrow passage. All the water from the western part of the Gouin Reservoir flows through this passage towards Kanatakompeak Bay in the east. This makes it a key spot for boats traveling across the Gouin Reservoir.
Islands in the Lake
On the west side of Bourgeois Lake, there's a group of islands. These islands separate Bourgeois Lake from Du Mâle Lake.
The biggest island is 7.2 kilometres (4.5 mi) long and 3.1 kilometres (1.9 mi) wide. It sits across the Toussaint and Lemay areas. Thibodeau Bay is located on the south side of this large island. This island is about 6.0 kilometres (3.7 mi) west of the village of Obedjiwan.
Water Flow from Bourgeois Lake
The water from Bourgeois Lake flows out from its northeast side.
From here, the current travels about 86.1 kilometres (53.5 mi) until it reaches the Gouin Dam. Here's how the water flows:
- First, it goes 4.2 kilometres (2.6 mi) east, crossing Toussaint Lake south of Obedjiwan village.
- Then, it flows 81.9 kilometres (50.9 mi) east, going through Marmette Lake. After that, it turns southeast, passing through Brochu Lake and Kikendatch Bay, until it reaches the Gouin Dam.
After the Gouin Dam, the water flows into the Saint-Maurice River. This river then continues all the way to Trois-Rivières, where it joins the Saint Lawrence River.
What's in a Name?
The name "Bourgeois" is a family name that comes from France.
The official name "Lac Bourgeois" was made formal on December 18, 1986, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec. This is the group in Quebec that names places.
