Lake Édouard (Quebec) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Edouard |
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Lake Édouard near the village of Lac-Édouard
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 Lake Edouard
Location in Quebec
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| Location | Quebec in Canada |
| Coordinates | 47°36′44″N 72°21′43″W / 47.61222°N 72.36194°W |
| Lake type | natural lake |
| Primary outflows | Batiscan River and Jeannotte River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 25 km (16 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 363 m (1,191 ft) |
| Settlements | Lac-Edouard, Quebec |
Lake Edouard is a beautiful lake located in the province of Quebec, Canada. It's entirely within the municipality of Lac-Edouard, which is part of the Mauricie region. This lake is a natural body of water, meaning it wasn't created by people.
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About Lake Edouard's Location
Lake Edouard is at the very top of the Batiscan River valley. What's special about this lake is that it has two outflows (rivers flowing out of it): the Batiscan River and the Jeannotte River.
The main river that flows into Lake Edouard is called the Rats River. This river starts from Rats Lake and flows into Rats Bay, which is on the western side of Lake Edouard.
The lake has many different bays, like Power Bay, Bouquet Bay, Great Bay, Steamboat Bay, Round Bay, and Gull Rock Bay.
Islands in the Lake
Lake Edouard also has several islands. The three biggest ones are located in the southwest part of the lake:
- Hoffman Island
- Turner Island
- Ziegfeld Island
Nearby Protected Areas
On the east side of the lake, you'll find the Judith de Brésoles Ecological Reserve. This special area is around a smaller lake called "Lac Mauvais" (which means "Wrong Lake").
The Zec Besonne is located near the southern part of Lake Edouard. A ZEC is a "controlled harvesting zone" where people can fish and hunt responsibly. It's close to another similar area called the Zec Jeannotte.
The village of Lac-Edouard, Quebec is situated on the northeast side of the lake. It's right near where the lake's water flows out to form the beginning of the Batiscan River.
Why is it Called Lake Edouard?
The name "Lake Edouard" has been used since 1828. It was first recorded by a surveyor named Joseph Bouchette. The name likely comes from Edward Jeannotte, who was a trapper. He lived in Batiscan, a town at the mouth of the Batiscan River.
The local Indigenous people, the Montagnais, also have a name for the lake: "Etoolsakigan." This name also means "Lake Edouard" in their language.
A Look Back: History of Lake Edouard
The forestry industry (which means cutting down trees for wood) was very important around Lake Edouard. This industry grew a lot after the train arrived in the 1890s.
Loggers worked on the lake, using special boats with cables to pull large groups of floating logs to sawmills. A sawmill is where logs are cut into lumber.
However, in 1901, a huge forest fire swept through the area. It destroyed the forests around the lake. This terrible fire caused about 1,000 workers at the Lac-Edouard sawmill to lose their jobs.
