Lake Saint-Louis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Saint-LouisLac Saint-Louis (French) |
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Lake St. Louis at St-Anne-de-Bellevue looking towards Île Perrot
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 Lake Saint-Louis
Lac Saint-Louis (French) Location in Quebec
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Location map
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| Location | Montérégie region, southwestern Quebec |
| Coordinates | 45°24′05″N 73°48′51″W / 45.40139°N 73.81417°W |
| Type | Natural |
| Primary inflows | Beauharnois Canal, Saint Lawrence River, Ottawa River, Saint-Charles River |
| Primary outflows | Saint Lawrence River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface elevation | 21 m (69 ft) |
| Settlements | Montreal |
Lake Saint-Louis is a large lake in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is where the mighty Saint Lawrence River meets the Ottawa River. This lake is actually a wider part of the St. Lawrence River itself.
The Saint Lawrence Seaway, a system of canals and channels for ships, also passes through Lake Saint-Louis. This makes it an important waterway for boats and ships.
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About Lake Saint-Louis
Lake Saint-Louis is part of the Hochelaga Archipelago, which is a group of islands. Many rivers flow into this lake. Besides the Ottawa River, it also gets water from the Beauharnois Canal, the Soulanges Canal, the St. Louis River, and the Chateauguay River.
Where is the Lake?
The lake is surrounded by different areas. To the north and east, you'll find the Island of Montreal. To the south, there are areas like Beauharnois-Salaberry, Roussillon, and Vaudreuil-Soulanges. The town of Beauharnois, with its power-dam and canal, is also located on the lake's southern side.
Islands and Shoreline
The West Island shore of Lake Saint-Louis has many private houses. However, it also has some nice parks and clubs. For example, you can find the Pointe-Claire Canoe Club and the Pointe-Claire Yacht Club here.
There are a few islands in the lake too. These include Dorval Island and Dowker Island.
Part of the St. Lawrence River
Lake Saint-Louis is one of three large lakes that are part of the St. Lawrence River. It is the second one you encounter when traveling downstream. Upstream (before it) is Lake Saint Francis, and downstream (after it) is Lake Saint Pierre. On average, a huge amount of water, about 8,400 cubic meters per second, flows through Lake Saint-Louis.
Life in the Lake
Many different kinds of fish live in Lake Saint-Louis. One common type of fish found here is the yellow perch.
History of the Name
The name "Lake Saint-Louis" has a long history. A small map made by Samuel de Champlain in 1611 already showed the lake with a name.
In the same year, Champlain wrote about a young man named Louys who drowned in what are now called the Lachine Rapids. Later, in 1870, a historian named Charles-Honoré Laverdière said that the rapids, and then the lake, were named to honor this young man. An old record from 1656 by a group called the Jesuits also mentions crossing "Lac Saint Louys."
Environmental Concerns
Like many large bodies of water, Lake Saint-Louis faces some environmental challenges. In 2014, there were reports of certain types of pollution entering the lake from nearby areas. These reports highlighted the importance of protecting the lake's water quality for everyone who uses it and for the wildlife that lives there.
