Girouard Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Girouard Lake |
|
|---|---|
Watershed of Nottaway River
|
|
 Girouard Lake
Location in Quebec
|
|
| Location | Senneterre |
| Coordinates | 48°29′21″N 76°19′25″W / 48.48917°N 76.32361°W |
| Type | Natural |
| Primary inflows | Mégiscane River, outlet of lake Gérard. |
| Primary outflows | Mégiscane River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 14.1 kilometres (8.8 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.1 kilometres (0.68 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 373 metres (1,224 ft) |
Girouard Lake is a beautiful freshwater lake in Quebec, Canada. It's located in the north-eastern part of Senneterre, within the La Vallée-de-l'Or Regional County Municipality. The Mégiscane River flows right through it!
This lake is entirely within the area known as the Girouard township. The main activity here is forestry, which means cutting down trees for wood. After that, tourism for fun and recreation is the next biggest activity.
Getting to Girouard Lake is easy using the Faillon Lake Road. Another forest road helps people get to the area northwest of the Mégiscane River. This includes the southern part of the Lake Wetetnagami Biodiversity Reserve, which is a special protected area for nature.
The lake's surface usually freezes over from early November until mid-May. However, it's safest to walk or play on the ice from mid-November to mid-April.
Exploring Girouard Lake's Location
The northern part of Girouard Lake is crossed by the Mégiscane River. A long bay stretches south for about 10.1 kilometres (6.3 mi) into the Girouard township. The entire lake is about 14.1 kilometres (8.8 mi) long and 1.1 kilometres (0.68 mi) wide at its widest point. The lake sits at an elevation of 373 metres (1,224 ft) above sea level.
The water flows out of Girouard Lake from its south side. From this exit point, here are some distances to other important places:
- It's about 61.5 kilometres (38.2 mi) north-east to where the Mégiscane River meets Parent Lake (Abitibi).
- It's about 58.7 kilometres (36.5 mi) east of the main part of Parent Lake (Abitibi).
- The mouth of the Nottaway River, where it meets Rupert Bay, is about 360 kilometres (220 mi) to the south-east.
- The center of Senneterre is about 70.5 kilometres (43.8 mi) north-east.
- The village of Lebel-sur-Quévillon is about 78.0 kilometres (48.5 mi) south-east.
Rivers and Lakes Near Girouard Lake
Many rivers and lakes are close to Girouard Lake. They are all part of the same water system.
- To the north: Mégiscane River, Achepabanca River, Achepabanca Lake, Capousacataca River.
- To the east: Mégiscane River, Berthelot River, Valmy Lake, Berthelot Lake (Mégiscane River), Whitegoose River.
- To the south: Canyon Creek, Valmy Lake, Attic River.
- To the west: Mégiscane River, Valets Lake, Delestres River.
What's in a Name? The Story of "Girouard"
The name "Girouard Lake" comes from the name of the Girouard township, which is the area it's in. "Girouard" is a family name that originally came from France.
The official name "Lac Girouard" was made formal on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is a group in Quebec responsible for naming places.
