Lake Albanel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Albanel |
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 Lake Albanel
Location in Quebec
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| Location | Baie-James, Quebec |
| Coordinates | 51°05′N 73°05′W / 51.083°N 73.083°W |
| Lake type | Natural |
| Primary outflows | Rupert River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 445 km2 (172 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 389 m (1,276 ft) |
Lake Albanel is a large lake located in the beautiful region of Jamésie in Quebec, Canada. It sits just east of the even bigger Lake Mistassini. This lake covers a huge area of about 445 square kilometers (that's around 172 square miles!).
You can reach Lake Albanel by following Quebec Route 167, which ends right by the lake. The entire lake is part of a special protected area called Lacs-Albanel-Mistassini-et-Waconichi, which helps keep its natural beauty safe.
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How Lake Albanel Was Formed
Scientists have an exciting idea about how Lake Albanel and its neighbor, Lake Mistassini, might have been created. In 2016, it was suggested that these lakes, with their curved shapes, could have been formed by a giant meteor hitting Earth about 2.1 billion years ago!
Imagine a meteor so big that it left a crater about 500 kilometers (310 miles) wide. Over billions of years, most of this huge crater has worn away or been buried. However, geologists have found clues in the rocks around the lake that point to a massive impact. If this idea is proven true, it would mean Lake Albanel is part of the largest meteor impact crater ever found on Earth!
Why Is It Called Lake Albanel?
Lake Albanel is named after a brave explorer named Charles Albanel. He was the first European to discover this lake way back in 1672.
Where Does the Water Go?
The main rivers and areas that feed into or are near Lake Albanel are:
- To the North: Lake Mistassini, Chéno River, Pépeshquasati River, Neilson River (Pépeshquasati River), Wabissinane River.
- To the East: Témiscamie River, Chalifour River, Perdue River (Témiscamie River), Témiscamie Lake.
- To the South: Chalifour River, Nestaocano River.
- To the West: Lake Mistassini, Rupert River, Wabissinane River.
Exploring Lake Albanel's Features
Lake Albanel has many interesting features, including islands, peninsulas (land almost surrounded by water), and bays (parts of the lake that curve inward).
Islands of Lake Albanel
Some of the islands you can find in Lake Albanel include:
- Near the Northwestern Shore: Dorval Island, Pauli Island, Rafinesque Island, Isle of the Sarracénie, Wahl Island, Richardson Island, Chicapio Island, Jacques-Cornut Island.
- In the Central Part: Islet of Algae, Island Pallier, Cedar Island, Cooper Island.
- In the South Part: Arnaud Island, Île Nantais, Michel-Laplante Island.
Peninsulas and Bays of Lake Albanel
The lake's shores are shaped by many points of land and curving bays:
- North-West Shore: Fletcher Tip, Pointe Raphael, Pointe de la Doradille, Pointe des Génevriers, Jeffrey Bay, Myrica Point, Curved Aspen Bay, Anse La Galissonnière.
- South-East Shore: Lake of the Potamots, Canso Point, Canso Bay, Esker Point, Lowther Bay, Tip of the Outcrop, Albanel peninsula, Pointe Rolland-Germain, Chebamonkoue Peninsula, Presqu'ile Michel-Laure, Strait Opapushka, Iron Point, Black Sand Bay.
- Southwest Shore: Pass Kaupach Kaachiitikwaatistanuch, Bay of Burning Feet, Mistassiniis Bay, Bright Wood Point, Pointe of Séneçons, Spike of the Lying Spruce, Pointe des Aulnaies, Presqu'ile of the Limestone Table, Pointe des Liards, Strait Opapushka, Changing Water Bay, Saint-Ambroise peninsula, Silvy Peninsula, Mistassini Point.
Getting to Lake Albanel
The eastern side of Lake Mistassini (which includes the village of Mistissini (Cree village municipality) and a small community called Rivière-Chalifour) can be reached from Chibougamau. You take Quebec route 167, which goes north and leads right to the east shore of Lake Albanel. There are also some smaller forest roads that connect to this main road.
See also
In Spanish: Lago Albanel para niños
