Lake Mistassini facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Mistassini |
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Satellite image of Lakes Mistassini and Albanel
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 Lake Mistassini
Location in Quebec
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| Location | Baie-James, Jamésie Territory, Quebec |
| Coordinates | 50°57′N 73°42′W / 50.950°N 73.700°W |
| Type | Oligotrophic |
| Primary inflows | Wabissinane River, Pépeshquasati River, Takwa River, Lake Albanel, Chalifour River (via Cabistachouane Bay), À la Perche River (Mistassini Lake) (via De l'Esker Bay and Du Poste Bay), Waconichi River (via Du Poste Bay), Pipounichouane River (via "Des Plongeurs Bay") |
| Primary outflows | Rupert River |
| Catchment area | 1,813 km2 (700 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 161 km (100 mi) |
| Max. width | 19 km (12 mi) |
| Surface area | 2,335 km2 (902 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 183 m (600 ft) |
| Water volume | 150 km3 (36 cu mi) |
| Surface elevation | 372 m (1,220 ft) |
| Islands | Pahipanouk Tchapahipane |
Lake Mistassini (which means Lac Mistassini in French) is the biggest natural lake in Quebec, Canada. It covers about 2,335 square kilometres (902 sq mi) of land and water. The lake is found in the Jamésie region, about 360 kilometers (220 mi) east of James Bay.
The Cree town of Mistissini is located on Watson Peninsula. This peninsula is in the southeast part of the lake. The lake is surrounded by large forests of Spruce, Birch, Pine, and Fir trees. These forests are very important for the local wood industry.
Several rivers flow into Lake Mistassini. Some of the main ones are the Chalifour, Pépeshquasati, Takwa, Témiscamie, and Wabissinane rivers. Other lakes nearby include Lake Albanel and Lake Troilus.
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How Lake Mistassini Was Formed
Scientists believe that Lake Mistassini and nearby Lake Albanel might have been created by a huge meteor impact. This impact could have happened about 2.1 billion years ago. The lakes form an arc shape, which is a clue.
Most of the giant crater, which might have been 500 kilometres (310 mi) wide, has worn away or is buried. But scientists have found signs of a major impact in the rocks around the lake. If this idea is proven true, it would be the largest meteor crater ever found on Earth!
What's in a Name? The Meaning of Mistassini
The name Mistassini comes from the Cree words mista assini. It can also come from the Montagnais words mishta ashini. Both mean "large rock." This name likely refers to a huge glacial erratic stone. This stone is about 3 meters (9.8 ft) tall and sits near where Lake Mistassini flows into the Rupert River.
Over many years, the lake's name changed spellings. In 1664, it was called Outakgami on a map. Later, in the 1680s, maps showed it as Timagaming. By 1703, cartographer Guillaume Delisle used Mistasin and Timagaming.
In 1808, James McKenzie was the first to write the name as Lake Mistassini. Even after that, other spellings like Mistassinnie were still used. But eventually, Mistassini became the official and accepted name.
Early Life Around the Lake
In 1948, researchers found 121 ancient sites near Lake Mistassini and Lake Albanel. These sites showed that First Nations people lived and camped in the area for a very long time.
Some of these sites were still being used by First Nations people in 1948. This shows how important these places were for their traditional way of life.
A Look Back: History of Lake Mistassini
French explorers knew about this large lake even before Europeans officially "discovered" it. Samuel de Champlain knew of it in 1603. The first European expedition to reach the lake was in 1663. It was led by Guillaume Couture, a famous explorer from New-France.
Couture traveled with Pierre Duquet, Jean Langlois, and Native American guides. They used 44 canoes! They paddled up the Saguenay River to Lake Mistassini. From there, they continued on the Rupert River, which flows all the way to Hudson Bay.
After this, Lake Mistassini became a key stop on the route from the Saguenay to James Bay. In 1672, Charles Albanel also crossed the lake. He wrote that the lake was named for its many huge rocks. That same year, a fur trading post was set up on the lake. Its location moved a few times until 1821. Then, it settled at the spot where the village of Mistissini is today.
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In the 1950s, an ethnographer named Edwards Rogers studied the traditional life of the Mistassini Cree people. He joined a hunting group led by Alfie Matoush. Rogers saw how the group used many different natural resources. They were able to get most of what they needed from the land. This helped them stay healthier than other First Nations people who lived in settled villages.
The Matoush group had a yearly cycle of moving camps. They left their summer camps on Lake Mistassini in late August. They moved to their hunting grounds, where they built fall camps. From October to December, they lived in more solid early winter camps. During the coldest part of winter, they moved to different hunting camps. By late May, they returned to their summer camp on Lake Mistassini.
Geography of Lake Mistassini
Lake Mistassini is a large lake with many interesting features. It has numerous islands, peninsulas, and bays. These features give the lake a unique and complex shape.
Some of the main islands include Pahipanouk Island and Tchapahipane Island. The lake also has many bays, such as Radisson Bay and Abatagouche Bay. These areas are important for wildlife and offer beautiful scenery.
Getting to Lake Mistassini
The eastern part of Lake Mistassini is easy to reach. This includes the village of Mistissini (Cree village municipality) and the small community of Rivière-Chalifour. You can get there from Chibougamau by taking Route 167. This road goes north along the east shore of Lake Albanel. There are also smaller forest roads that connect to this main road.
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See also
In Spanish: Lago Mistassini para niños
