Lac à Jack facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lac à Jack |
|
|---|---|
 Lac à Jack
Location in Quebec
|
|
| Location | Lac-Pikauba, Charlevoix Regional County Municipality (MRC), Capitale-Nationale, Quebec, Canada |
| Coordinates | 47°37′14″N 71°00′22″W / 47.62056°N 71.00611°W |
| Lake type | Natural |
| Primary inflows | (Clockwise from the mouth)
|
| Primary outflows | Outlet going to Fronsac Lake |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 3.3 km (2.1 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.7 km (1.1 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 821 m (2,694 ft) |
Lac à Jack, also known as Jack's Lake, is a freshwater lake in Quebec, Canada. It is located in the Lac-Pikauba area, within the Charlevoix Regional County Municipality. This beautiful lake is part of the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve, a large protected area in the province of Quebec.
Lac à Jack is an important source for the Malbaie River. This mountain lake is in a region where forestry, which is the business of growing and harvesting trees, has always been very important. In the mid-1800s, fun activities like tourism also started to become popular here. Because the lake is high up in the mountains, it usually freezes over from late October to late April. It's generally safe to walk or play on the ice from early December to April.
Contents
Exploring Lac à Jack's Location
Lac à Jack is found in a forest area within the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve. The lake is about 3.3 kilometers (2 miles) long and sits at an elevation of 821 meters (2,694 feet) above sea level. It covers an area of 2.3 square kilometers (0.9 square miles).
How the Lake is Formed
The lake is on the western side of the Malbaie River valley. Parts of the area around the lake are marshy, meaning they are wet and boggy. Long ago, the lake was changed a bit to help with "log drives." This was when logs were floated down the river to be transported. A dam was built to help with this process.
Water Sources and Flow
Lac à Jack gets most of its water from two main places:
- The outlet from Fronsac Lake, which flows into Lac à Jack through a narrow channel about 0.3 kilometers (0.2 miles) long.
- The outlet from Petit lac à Jack (Little Jack's Lake), which flows from the north through a channel about 0.8 kilometers (0.5 miles) long.
The dam at the end of Lac à Jack is on the east side of the lake. From this dam, the water flows out of Lac à Jack and into the Malbaie River. The Malbaie River then flows for about 148.9 kilometers (92.5 miles) before reaching La Malbaie and finally joining the Saint Lawrence River.
Fun Things to Do at Lac à Jack
Lac à Jack is one of the biggest lakes in the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve. It's a very popular spot for fishing, especially for speckled trout. Around 30,000 trout are caught here each year!
You can also go on a canoe-camping trip that starts right at the dam of Lac à Jack. This trip lets you paddle through the entire park, enjoying the wild and beautiful scenery. It's a great way to explore nature.
The Story Behind the Name
The name "Lac à Jack" means "Jack's Lake" in English. This name first appeared on maps in 1943.
Why is it Called Jack's Lake?
The exact reason for the name is not completely clear. However, it might be linked to an Indigenous person named Jacques Bacon. He used to camp in these areas with his family many decades ago.
The construction of the Lac-à-Jack dam also helped create a road. This road connects the Jacques-Cartier lake area to the Grands-Jardins conservation park. The name "Lac à Jack" was officially approved on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is the organization responsible for place names in Quebec. Sometimes, you might see it called "Grand lac Jack" or "Grand lac à Jack," which are just other ways of saying the same name.
Related Articles
- Charlevoix Regional County Municipality
- Lac-Pikauba, an unorganized territory
- Laurentides Wildlife Reserve
- Fronsac Lake
- Malbaie River
