Lac à l'Épaule facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lac à l'Épaule |
|
|---|---|
 Lac à l'Épaule
Location in Quebec
|
|
| Location | Lac-Jacques-Cartier (TNO), La Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality, Capitale-Nationale |
| Coordinates | 47°14′52″N 71°14′25″W / 47.24778°N 71.24028°W |
| Lake type | Natural |
| Primary inflows | (clockwise from the mouth) Rivière à l'Épaule, discharge of lac à Noël. |
| Primary outflows | Rivière à l'Épaule |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 2.9 km (1.8 mi) |
| Max. width | 0.8 km (0.50 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 651 m (2,136 ft) |
The Lac à l'Épaule (which means "shoulder lake" in English) is a freshwater lake. It is located inside Jacques-Cartier National Park in Quebec, Canada. The Rivière à l'Épaule (Shoulder River) flows right through it from north to south.
This lake is entirely within the area of Lac-Jacques-Cartier. This region is part of the Capitale-Nationale area in Quebec.
The main road, Quebec Route 175, runs close to the lake on its east side. This road connects the cities of Quebec and Saguenay. It is only about 0.25 kilometres (0.16 mi) from the lake. There is also a smaller road on the west side. This road is used for logging and for people visiting the area.
Logging is the main business here. Tourism is also important, especially at "Camp Devin." This camp is now managed by the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec.
The surface of Lac à l'Épaule usually freezes over from early December to late March. It is generally safe to walk or play on the ice from late December to early March.
Exploring Lac à l'Épaule
The "Petit lac à l'Épaule" (Small Shoulder Lake) is located about 4.6 kilometres (2.9 mi) to the northeast. This smaller lake marks the border between the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve and Jacques-Cartier National Park. The "Petit lac à l'Épaule" is where the Rivière à l'Épaule begins. This river then flows south through the entire "Lac à l'Épaule."
Another important water source for Lac à l'Épaule is the water flowing from "lac à Noël" (Christmas Lake). This water comes from the southeast.
Lac à l'Épaule is about 2.9 kilometres (1.8 mi) long and 0.8 kilometres (0.50 mi) wide. Its surface is about 651 metres (2,136 ft) above sea level. This lake is long and deep, surrounded by mountains. It has a small bay on its eastern side. A dam was built at the lake's outlet many years ago. The area of land that drains into this lake is about 87 square kilometres (34 sq mi).
The lake is located about 6.7 kilometres (4.2 mi) west of the Morency River. It is also about 11.4 kilometres (7.1 mi) east of the Jacques-Cartier River.
From the end of Lac à l'Épaule, the Rivière à l'Épaule flows about 17 kilometres (11 mi) southwest. It then joins the Jacques-Cartier River at the base of Épaule mountain. The water then flows generally south through the Jacques-Cartier River. Finally, it reaches the northeast bank of the Saint-Laurent river.
Why the Name "Shoulder Lake"?
The name "Lac à l'Épaule" is very old, and its exact meaning is not fully known. However, the most common idea is that "shoulder" refers to a flat area with a gentle slope. This kind of flat area often connects two valleys that are at different heights. This is common in places that were once covered by glaciers.
Old maps and reports mention the lake and river. A report from 1829 by John Adams talks about the "rivière à L'Épaule" and "Montagne de l'Épaule." William Ware also described the area around Lac à l'Épaule in 1835.
In the 1600s, Jesuit priests used to travel through this area. They followed a path made by the Innu people to reach lac Saint-Jean. Around 1829, the Wendat (Huron) chief Nicholas Vincent drew a map. On his map, he called the river "Hüaonjacaronté."
This area was on the edge of where settlers lived. Some attempts were made to clear the land. In 1867, signs of cleared land were seen there. The government later built a shelter for travelers going to Lac-Saint-Jean. Later, a road was built to Jacques-Cartier Lake.
Starting in 1907, places to stay were built for people who came to fish. Camp Devlin was added later. In the summer of 1943, something very important happened at Lac à l'Épaule. Sir Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the President of the United States, visited. They were in Quebec for an important meeting during World War II.
In 1946, a larger building was put up by a logging company. This building later became a meeting place for government officials. A famous event in Quebec history happened there in September 1962. It made the phrase "shoulder-to-shoulder" well-known. A special meeting of Quebec government ministers took place there. They decided to hold a public vote (a referendum) on whether to give Hydro-Quebec the power to manage all of Quebec's hydroelectric resources.
The name "Lac à l'Épaule" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which names places in Quebec.
