Grand lac des Enfers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grand lac des Enfers |
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 Grand lac des Enfers
Location in Quebec
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| Location | Lac-Pikauba, Charlevoix Regional County Municipality (MRC), Capitale-Nationale, Quebec, Canada |
| Coordinates | 47°43′02″N 71°00′32″W / 47.71722°N 71.00889°W |
| Lake type | Natural |
| Primary inflows | (Clockwise from the mouth)
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| Primary outflows | Rivière de l'Enfer |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 2.6 km (1.6 mi) |
| Max. width | 10.7 km (6.6 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 950 m (3,120 ft) |
| Islands | 4 |
The Grand lac des Enfers (which means Great Lake of the Hells in English) is a beautiful freshwater lake. It is found in a wild area called Lac-Pikauba, in the Charlevoix Regional County Municipality in Quebec, Canada.
This mountain lake is the main source of the Rivière de l'Enfer (Hell River). For a long time, cutting down trees for wood was the main activity here. But in the 1800s, people started coming for fun activities like fishing and boating. Because the lake is so high up, it usually freezes over from late October until early May. It's safest to walk or play on the ice from late November to April.
A special forest road helps people get to the area around Grand lac des Enfers.
About the Lake
The Grand lac des Enfers is shaped a bit like a curvy banana, about 2.6 kilometres (1.6 mi) long. It sits high up in the mountains at an altitude of 950 metres (3,120 ft). The lake is surrounded by forests and tall cliffs, especially on its north side.
The water from Grand lac des Enfers flows out from a bay on the east side of the lake. This water forms the start of the "Rivière de l'Enfer." This river flows east for about 16.2 kilometres (10.1 mi). Then, it joins the Malbaie River, which travels for a long 130.9 kilometres (81.3 mi) before reaching La Malbaie. Finally, the water from the lake empties into the mighty St. Lawrence River.
Where the Name Comes From
The name "Grand lac des Enfers" first appeared on maps a long time ago. It was seen on a regional map in 1943 and then on a draft map of Saint-Urbain in 1958. Sometimes, people just called it "Lac de l'Enfer."
The official name, "Grand lac des Enfers," was made formal on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is the group in Quebec that names places.
Other Places Nearby
- Lac-Pikauba, a large wild area
- Charlevoix Regional County Municipality, the local government area
- Laurentides Wildlife Reserve, a protected natural area
- Malbaie River, a river that flows from the lake
