Lake Masketsi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Masketsi |
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 Lake Masketsi
Location in Quebec
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| Location | Quebec in Canada |
| Coordinates | 46°59′58″N 72°33′15″W / 46.99944°N 72.55417°W |
| Type | natural |
| Primary outflows | Petit lac Masketsi which empties into Tawachiche West River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 4.4 km (2.7 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.8 km (1.1 mi) |
| Surface area | 204.3 km2 (78.9 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 231 m (758 ft) |
Lake Masketsi is a beautiful natural lake located in the Quebec province of Canada. It's found in a special area called Lac-Masketsi, which is part of the Mekinac Regional County Municipality in the Mauricie region. This lake is known for its interesting shape and its connection to the Tawachiche West River.
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Exploring Lake Masketsi's Geography
Lake Masketsi stretches about 4.4 kilometers (2.7 miles) from north to south. It has a unique shape, being wider at its northern and southern ends. At its widest, it's about 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles) across in the north. In the middle, it narrows to about 0.6 kilometers (0.4 miles), then widens again to 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) in the south.
Dams and Water Flow
Both Lake Masketsi and a smaller lake nearby, called "Little Lake Masketsi," have dams. These dams help manage the water for fun activities like recreation and tourism.
The dam at Lake Masketsi is 4.2 meters (13.8 feet) tall. It can hold a lot of water, about 11,466,000 cubic meters (405 million cubic feet)! This dam was first built way back in 1909. This was when the railway line was being constructed along the lake. The dam was later updated in 2008.
Downstream from Lake Masketsi is the dam for "Little Lake Masketsi." This smaller dam was built in 1921. It was originally used to help power a sawmill nearby. This dam is 1.7 meters (5.6 feet) tall and can hold 215,000 cubic meters (7.6 million cubic feet) of water.
The Railway Connection
Since 1909, the eastern side of Lake Masketsi has been bordered by a railway line. This line belongs to the Canadian National Railway. It connects the towns of Hervey-Jonction and La Tuque. Building this railway was a big job! The mountains on the east side of the lake required a lot of blasting to make way for the tracks. There were even two small train stations along the lake, named "Gouin" and "Lac-Masketsi."
What's in a Name? The Meaning of Masketsi
The name "Masketsi" has an interesting history. It's a Native American word that means "moccasin." A surveyor named Eugène Taché first showed this name on a map of Quebec in 1870. The name "Lake Masketsi" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is Quebec's official board for geographical names.
Related Places
- Mekinac Regional County Municipality
- Lac-Masketsi, an unorganized territory
- Batiscanie, Quebec
- Trois-Rives, a municipality
- Lac-aux-Sables, a municipality
- Zec Tawachiche
- Lejeune Township
- Mauricie
- Tawachiche River
- Tawachiche West River
