Grand Lake Bostonnais facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grand Lake Bostonnais |
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 Grand Lake Bostonnais
Location in Quebec
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| Location | La Tuque (urban agglomeration), Mauricie |
| Coordinates | 47°54′01″N 72°14′03″W / 47.90028°N 72.23417°W |
| Type | natural |
| Primary outflows | Bostonnais River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 10.8 km (6.7 mi) |
| Max. width | 2.8 km (1.7 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 413 m (1,355 ft) |
Grand Lake Bostonnais is a large lake located in Quebec, Canada. It is found in the La Tuque (urban agglomeration) area, within the Mauricie region. This important lake feeds the Bostonnais River, which then flows into the Saint-Maurice River near the town of La Tuque. The land around Grand Lake Bostonnais is completely covered by forests.
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About the Lake's Location
Grand Lake Bostonnais is about 62 kilometers (38.5 miles) northeast of the city of La Tuque. It is surrounded by mountains. The lake's surface is usually frozen from November until April. Its average height above sea level is 413 meters (1,355 feet). The northern end of the lake is about 4.4 kilometers (2.7 miles) south of Quebec route 155. This road connects La Tuque to Chambord near Lac Saint-Jean.
Size and Shape of Grand Lake Bostonnais
Grand Lake Bostonnais stretches for 10.8 kilometers (6.7 miles) from north to south. The southern part of the lake is 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) wide. The northern part is a bit wider, at 2.8 kilometers (1.7 miles). A large island sits in the middle of the southern part of the lake. There are also about a dozen smaller islands, mostly found in the northern section.
How the Lake is Fed
The lake gets most of its water from the east side, from Lake Kiskissink. Lake Kiskissink itself is fed from the south by water flowing from Lescarbot Lake. Lake Kiskissink runs alongside Grand Lake Bostonnais. From the point where water leaves Lake Kiskissink, this part of the Bostonnais River is 8.2 kilometers (5.1 miles) long. This includes a 3.8-kilometer (2.4-mile) river section and a 4.4-kilometer (2.7-mile) strait, which is like an arm of Grand Lake Bostonnais. Between the two lakes, there is a forestry center called Van Bruyssels.
The Bostonnais River and Dam
The water leaves Grand Lake Bostonnais from a small bay on its west side. The Bostonnais River flows through the lake. There was a project to fix the dam at Grand Lake Bostonnais. This project was a team effort involving Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Quebec Wildlife Foundation, Hydro-Québec, and Zec Kiskissink. The goal was to keep the lake level steady. This helps birds like ducks breed in flooded areas. It also protects places where fish lay eggs in the river during times of low water in winter. The lake's water eventually flows into the Bostonnais River.
Why the Lake is Called Bostonnais
The name of the lake honors Jean-Baptiste Bostonais. He was a trapper from the Abenaki people, originally from Boston, Massachusetts, in New England. He had a hunting area in this region. His name is often used for other places nearby, like the Large and Small Bostonnais lakes, the Bostonnais channel, the Little Bostonnais River, and Bostonnais island. The river itself gave its name to the village of La Bostonnais. This village, along with La Tuque, is one of the only communities located on the banks of this river.
The name "Grand Lake Bostonnais" was officially recorded on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is the Geographical Names Board of Québec.
