Lake Mégantic facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake MéganticLac Mégantic |
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Lake Mégantic in Piopolis
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 Lake Mégantic
Lac Mégantic Location in Quebec
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| Location | Le Granit Regional County Municipality, Estrie, Quebec, Canada |
| Coordinates | 45°30′50″N 70°52′38″W / 45.51389°N 70.87722°W |
| Type | Glacial lake |
| Primary inflows | Arnold River |
| Primary outflows | Chaudière River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) |
| Max. width | 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) |
| Surface area | 26.4 square kilometres (10.2 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 75 m (246 ft) |
| Shore length1 | 45.4 km (28.2 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 395 metres (1,296 ft) |
| Settlements | Lac-Mégantic, Frontenac, Marston, and Piopolis |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Mégantic, also known as Lac Mégantic in French, is a beautiful lake in Quebec, Canada. It's nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, close to the border with the United States. This lake is where the Chaudière River begins its journey. The Chaudière River flows all the way to the St. Lawrence River near Quebec City.
Many towns and villages are located along the shores of Lake Mégantic. These include Lac-Mégantic, Frontenac, Marston, and Piopolis. The lake is part of a region called Le Granit. This area is known for its forests and for mining granite, a type of stone.
What's in a Name? The Story of Lake Mégantic
Have you ever wondered how places get their names? The name Mégantic might come from an old Abenaki language word. This word is Namagôntekw. It means "place where there is trout in the lake."
Over time, the name has been spelled in different ways. For example, on some old maps from the 1775 American invasion of Quebec, it was called Amaguntik.
Exploring Lake Mégantic's Size and Shape
Lake Mégantic is quite large! Its surface is about 395 m (1,296 ft) above sea level. This means it's pretty high up.
The lake is also deep, with an average depth of 75 m (246 ft). Imagine stacking many school buses on top of each other! The total surface area of the lake is 26.4 square kilometres (10.2 sq mi).
The shoreline, which is the edge of the lake, stretches for about 45.4 km (28.2 mi). The lake is about 16 km (9.9 mi) long. Its average width is around 3.5 km (2.2 mi).
Protecting Lake Mégantic's Wildlife
Lake Mégantic is an important place for nature. It has a special area called the Lake Mégantic Marsh. This marsh covers about 755 hectares.
It's a wonderful home for many animals. Migratory birds, which are birds that travel long distances, stop here. It's also a place where many birds come to build their nests and raise their young. Protecting this area helps keep these birds safe.
