Lake Blouin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lac Blouin |
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Lake Blouin viewed from the south
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 Lac Blouin
Location in Quebec
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| Location | Val-d'Or, Quebec / Vallee de l'Or Regional County Municipality, Quebec |
| Coordinates | 48°9′12″N 77°45′58″W / 48.15333°N 77.76611°W |
| Primary inflows | Bourlamaque River Senneville River |
| Primary outflows | Harricana River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 13.5 km (8 mi) |
| Max. width | 2 km (1 mi) |
| Surface area | 13 km2 (5.0 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 304 m (997 ft) |
| Settlements | Val-d'Or |
Lake Blouin (French: lac Blouin) is a natural freshwater lake in Quebec, Canada. It is shaped like an ellipse. The lake is about 13.5 kilometers (8.4 miles) long. It has a maximum width of 2 kilometers (1.2 miles).
This lake is not very deep. Its deepest point is about 30 meters (98 feet). You can find Lake Blouin just north of the city of Val-d’Or, Quebec. Water flows into Lake Blouin from the Bourlamaque and Senneville rivers. It is also where the Harricana River begins. These rivers are all located near the lake's northeastern end. The shores of Lake Blouin have small rocky areas and sandy beaches. The lake is part of the Clay Belt. This is a large, flat area with rich soil in Quebec and Ontario.
Contents
What's in a Name?
Lake Blouin gets its name from Alphonse Blouin. He was a surveyor for Quebec’s Ministry of Lands and Forests. Mr. Blouin explored this area in 1905 and 1906.
Before it was named Blouin, the lake was called Pakitanika. This name means "Lake of the Goose" in the Algonquian language.
A Lake of History
Lake Blouin was very important for the growth of Val-d’Or. It also helped the gold mines that the city's economy depends on. In the early 1900s, it was the main way for explorers and surveyors to travel.
Helping Gold Mines Grow
In the early 1920s, many gold mines started around what became Val-d’Or. Lake Blouin allowed heavy mining equipment to be brought in by boat. These boats came from the town of Amos. A special dock was built in 1925 at the southeast end of the lake for this purpose. New settlers and miners also used this route to reach the area.
Air Travel on the Lake
As early as 1920, the lake was used by floatplanes. These planes landed on the water and provided services to the area. In 1946, a dock and a place to refuel these planes opened on the lake's southeast shore. By 1949, you could take a daily flight from Val-d’Or to Montreal. These flights used amphibious aircraft that landed on Lake Blouin.
Moving Logs by Water
For a short time, Lake Blouin was also used for timber rafting. This means logs from the Val-d’Or area were floated across the lake. They were then sent to a sawmill in Amos.
Animals in the Lake
Many types of fish live in Lake Blouin. These include:
- Brown bullhead
- Yellow walleye
- Black walleye
- Northern pike
- Burbot
- White sucker
- Longnose sucker
- Yellow perch
Fun and Culture
Lake Blouin is mentioned in a popular song. The song is called "La bitt à Tibi." It was written by Raôul Duguay, who is from Val-d’Or.
The Rotary municipal beach on Lake Blouin is a popular spot. Many people enjoy visiting it during the summer.
