Lac des Neiges facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lac des Neiges |
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 Lac des Neiges
Location in Quebec
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| Location | Lac-Jacques-Cartier, La Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality (MRC), Capitale-Nationale, Quebec, Canada |
| Coordinates | 47°28′30″N 71°02′05″W / 47.47500°N 71.03472°W |
| Lake type | Natural |
| Primary inflows | 22 unidentified streams and outlet of Boily Lake. |
| Primary outflows | Rivière des Neiges |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 14 km (8.7 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.1 km (0.68 mi) |
| Surface area | 7.0 ha (0.027 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 842 m (2,762 ft) |
Lac des Neiges, which means "Lake of Snow" in English, is a beautiful freshwater lake. You can find it in a wild area called Lac-Jacques-Cartier in the province of Quebec, Canada.
A forest road (R0308) helps people reach the lake. It runs along the eastern side. Another smaller road goes along the east shore. This road leads to some cabins near the lake's outlet.
Because it's so high up, Lac des Neiges usually freezes over. This happens from late November to early April. It's usually safe to walk on the ice from mid-December to late March. A dam at the lake's exit helps control the water level.
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Exploring Lac des Neiges
Lac des Neiges is nestled among mountains. It covers about 7 square kilometres (2.7 sq mi) and stretches for 14 kilometres (8.7 mi). The lake is located about 70 kilometres (43 mi) north of Quebec City. It's part of the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve and Forêt Montmorency.
This lake is the starting point for the Rivière des Neiges river. The surface of the lake is very high up, at 842 metres (2,762 ft) above sea level. There's also a marshy area to the north and northeast of the lake.
Mountains Around the Lake
Many tall mountains surround Lac des Neiges. Here are some of the main peaks:
- North side: Two peaks, each about 979 metres (3,212 ft) high.
- East side: Several peaks, including one at 1,019 metres (3,343 ft) and Mont Francine-C.McKenzie at 990 metres (3,250 ft).
- South side: A peak reaching 1,029 metres (3,376 ft).
- West side: Many peaks, such as Mont Pierre-Dugua-De Mons at 1,007 metres (3,304 ft) and Mont de la Québécoises, which is the highest at 1,110 metres (3,640 ft).
The very highest peak in the reserve is Mont Belle Fontaine. It stands at 1,148 metres (3,766 ft). This mountain is about 5.0 kilometres (3.1 mi) southwest of Lac des Neiges. Long ago, a fire tower was built there.
The Rivière des Neiges
The Rivière des Neiges flows out of Lac des Neiges. It travels about 40 kilometres (25 mi) south. Finally, it empties into the Montmorency River. The riverbed is very rocky. It flows through a glacial valley that gets steeper as you go downstream.
The water level in the Rivière des Neiges is usually low. This means you can't really navigate it by boat. However, during the spring floods, it's possible to go kayaking!
Discovering the Ancient Forest
About 70 kilometres (43 mi) north of Quebec City, you'll find the Lac-des-Neiges Ancient Forest. This special forest is spread across three areas. One part is on the west shore of Lac des Neiges. Another is near the dam at the start of the Rivière des Neiges. The third part is on the west bank of the Rivière des Neiges, below Lac English.
This ancient forest covers 408 hectares (1,010 acres). It's a type of forest known as the eastern white birch fir forest. The last great ice age ended about 10,000 years ago. It left behind thick layers of glacial deposits in this area. These layers are usually about 25 centimetres (9.8 in) thick.
Unique Trees and Plants
The main trees in this ancient forest are black spruce and fir. Some of these trees are over 200 years old! Fir trees are very common here. This is because the climate is cool and very humid. The mountainous and rocky land means the trees aren't super dense. Their trunks are generally not very tall.
So far, this amazing forest has been lucky. It hasn't been badly affected by natural disasters. Things like forest fires, insect outbreaks, strong winds, or lightning strikes haven't caused much damage. This kind of natural preservation is rare for such an old forest. Also, people haven't had much impact on this area. This is mainly because of the difficult terrain.
Forests north of Quebec City are often used for logging. This has been happening since the mid-1800s. Also, insect outbreaks, like the spruce budworm, can damage trees. These outbreaks can even help new trees grow.
This protected forest is home to some rare species. These include a fungus called Leptoporus mollis and a liverwort called Anastrophyllum hellerianum. These species are often found in old, undisturbed forests. Researchers have suggested that this special forest should be protected. They want it to be officially recognized as an "old growth forest."
You can also find black spruce and white birch trees here. They are spread throughout the area but not in high numbers. Fir trees usually grow back well after disturbances. Sometimes, black spruce and white birch also regenerate. The ground is often covered with dense plants. These include Rubus pubescens and Gymnocarpium disjuncta. The moss layer is often dominated by Pleurozium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens.
The Name "Lake of Snow"
The name "Lac des Neiges" has been around for a long time. It appeared on maps as early as 1731. A map by Father Pierre-Michel Laure showed it then.
Long ago, during Lent (a time before Christian Easter), people from Côte-de-Beaupré would go fishing. They would travel on ice roads along the Montmorency and des Neiges rivers. Their destination was Lac des Neiges. They fished for lake trout, which were sometimes called "forked tail" by French Canadians. Some of these fish could weigh up to 10 kilograms (22 lb)! After a good catch, fishermen would pile these large gray trout onto sleds.
Near the lake, there's a fishing camp. This camp is reserved only for important guests of the government of Quebec. Because of this, the lake used to be called "Lake of Ministers." This was due to the camp's exclusivity and the special fishing rights.
The name "Lac des Neiges" comes from the snow. The surrounding mountain peaks often have snow for most of the year. This is longer than in the valleys below. In spring, the melting snow helps feed the lake. The Wendats (Hurons) called this lake Oohkiahi. It sits high up, about 850 metres (2,790 ft) above sea level.
The name "Lac des Neiges" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec.
