Goéland Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lac au Goéland (Goéland Lake) |
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Watershed of Nottaway River
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 Lac au Goéland (Goéland Lake)
Location in Quebec
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| Location | Baie-James |
| Coordinates | 49°47′44″N 76°47′12″W / 49.79556°N 76.78667°W |
| Type | Natural |
| Primary inflows | Waswanipi River, Chensagi River, Maicasagi River |
| Primary outflows | Waswanipi River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 36 kilometres (22 mi) |
| Max. width | 20 kilometres (12 mi) |
| Surface area | 251 kilometres (156 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 262 metres (860 ft) |
Lac au Goéland, also known as Gull Lake, is a big freshwater lake in the Nord-du-Québec region of Quebec, Canada. The Waswanipi River flows right through it. This lake is located in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay area.
The lake's surface covers parts of four different areas called cantons: Meulande, Dussieux, Bourbaux, and Nignal. The main activity around the lake is forestry, which means cutting down trees for wood. After that, tourism (people visiting for fun) is the next most important activity.
You can get to Gull Lake by using the James Bay road. This road starts from the southwest, near Matagami, and then goes north. There are also smaller forest roads that help people reach the southern part of the lake.
Usually, the surface of Gull Lake is frozen solid from early November until mid-May. It's generally safe to walk or travel on the ice from mid-November to mid-April.
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Exploring Gull Lake's Geography
Gull Lake is about 36 kilometres (22 mi) long and up to 18 kilometres (11 mi) wide. It sits at an elevation of 263 metres (863 ft) above sea level. This lake is part of a larger system of lakes and rivers. It connects to Maicasagi Lake to the northeast, Waswanipi Lake to the southeast, and Olga Lake to the west.
Gull Lake has many interesting features, including several peninsulas (pieces of land sticking out into the water) and 31 islands! The two main bays are Ramsay Bay in the southwest and Lawrence Bay in the west. The Waswanipi River flows into Gull Lake and then continues its journey northwest towards Lake Matagami.
A channel called the Max Passage, which is 10.5 kilometres (6.5 mi) long, connects Gull Lake to Maicasagi Lake. Maicasagi Lake gets its water from the Chensagi River, which flows from the north.
Where is Gull Lake Located?
The main exit point of Gull Lake is in a bay on the northwest side. Here are some distances to other important places:
- It's about 20.1 kilometres (12.5 mi) east of where the Waswanipi River leaves Olga Lake.
- It's about 15.7 kilometres (9.8 mi) southwest of the exit of Maicasagi Lake.
- It's about 52.1 kilometres (32.4 mi) northeast of the town of Matagami.
- It's about 48.1 kilometres (29.9 mi) east of where the Waswanipi River enters Lake Matagami.
Rivers and Lakes Around Gull Lake
The main rivers and lakes that are close to Gull Lake include:
- North side: Chensagi River and Maicasagi Lake.
- East side: Waswanipi River and Waswanipi Lake.
- South side: Iserhoff River, Iserhoff North River, and Imbault Creek.
- West side: Lake Matagami, Olga Lake (Waswanipi River), and Opaoca River.
Why is it Called Gull Lake?
This lake was originally called "Kiashk Lake" or "Kiask Lake" by the Cree Nation's Indigenous people. The word "Kiashk" means "gull." This name was given because the islands in the lake were a safe place for many colonies of gulls, which are swimming birds that eat many different things.
In 1819, an explorer named James Clouston wrote about the lake and called it "Cheaskquachiston Lake" in his journal. Other explorers also used similar names. Later, in 1896, Robert Bell translated this name to "Gull Lake" in his exploration report. Henry O'Sullivan used the same name in 1901.
A map of Quebec from 1946 also showed the lake as "L. to the Gull." Sometimes, it was even called "Heron Lake." The word "Gull" is used in about a hundred other place names in Quebec, especially for lakes.
The official name, "Lac au Goéland," was made formal on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is the organization in charge of naming places in Quebec.
