Caopatina Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Caopatina Lake |
|
|---|---|
Watershed of Nottaway River
|
|
 Caopatina Lake
Location in Quebec
|
|
| Location | Eeyou Istchee James Bay (municipality) |
| Coordinates | 49°26′52″N 74°45′54″W / 49.44778°N 74.76500°W |
| Type | Natural |
| Primary inflows | Opawica River, Roy River (Opawica River), the outlet of a set of lakes |
| Primary outflows | Opawica River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 16.7 kilometres (10.4 mi) |
| Surface area | 46 kilometres (29 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 365 metres (1,198 ft) |
Caopatina Lake is a large freshwater lake located in the southeastern part of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay area in Quebec, Canada. It's a beautiful natural spot in the Nord-du-Québec region.
The main activity around the lake is forestry, which means managing forests and cutting trees for wood. After forestry, tourism is also very popular, with people visiting for fun and relaxation.
If you want to visit, you can get to the lake using a forest road called R1032. The lake's surface usually freezes over from early November until mid-May. However, it's generally safe to walk or play on the ice from mid-November to mid-April.
Contents
About Caopatina Lake
Caopatina Lake is about 16.7 kilometres (10.4 mi) long. At its widest point, it stretches 5.1 kilometres (3.2 mi). The lake sits at an elevation of 365 metres (1,198 ft) above sea level.
This lake has many interesting features. You'll find lots of bays, peninsulas (pieces of land almost surrounded by water), and islands. Six long, narrow peninsulas extend from the north shore, reaching almost to the middle of the lake. The longest one is about 4.6 kilometres (2.9 mi) long! There's also a group of islands in the southeast part of the lake.
The Caopatina River flows through the northeastern part of the lake towards the west.
How the Lake Gets Water
Caopatina Lake gets its water from several sources:
- The Opawica River flows into the east side of the lake.
- The Roy River brings water from the south.
- A group of smaller lakes on the west side also feed into Caopatina Lake.
Nearby Places
The mouth of Caopatina Lake, where its water flows out, is in a bay on the northwest side. From this spot, here are some distances to other places:
- It's about 3.9 kilometres (2.4 mi) east of Des Vents Lake (Opawica River).
- The city of Chibougamau is 155.2 kilometres (96.4 mi) to the southwest.
- The village of Chapais, Quebec is 34.4 kilometres (21.4 mi) to the southeast.
- The village of Waswanipi is 87.2 kilometres (54.2 mi) to the east.
- The large Gouin Reservoir is 75.3 kilometres (46.8 mi) to the north.
- The town of Lebel-sur-Quévillon is 170 kilometres (110 mi) to the northeast.
Rivers and Lakes Nearby
Many other rivers and lakes are close to Caopatina Lake. They are part of the same water system:
- To the North: Irene River, Fancamp Lake, Chibougamau River, Chibougamau Lake.
- To the East: Opawica River, Eu Lake, Nemenjiche Lake, Rohault Lake.
- To the South: Roy River (Opawica River), Surprise Lake (Roy River), Cawcot River.
- To the West: Des Vents Lake (Opawica River), Opawica River, Doda Lake.
What's in a Name?
The name "Caopatina" comes from the Innu or Cree languages. It is believed to mean "lake between two cliffs." This name has been used on maps since at least 1927. In the past, the lake was also called Kaopatina, Kaopatnaginsckao, and Lac de l'Épinette Rouge.
The official name "Lac Caopatina" was formally recognized on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec. This commission is responsible for naming places in Quebec.
