Lake Terrien (Mékinac) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Terrien (Mékinac) |
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 Lake Terrien (Mékinac)
Location in Quebec
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| Location | Quebec |
| Coordinates | 46°59′07″N 72°26′20″W / 46.98528°N 72.43889°W |
| Type | Natural |
| Primary outflows | Tawachiche River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 2.0 km (1.2 mi) |
| Max. width | 0.3 km (0.19 mi) |
| Settlements | Lac-aux-Sables |
Lake Terrien is a beautiful lake in Quebec, Canada. It is located in the Mékinac area, near the town of Lac-aux-Sables. Sometimes, people also call it "Therrien."
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Exploring Lake Terrien
Lake Terrien is found in a forest area known as the Zec Tawachiche. If you look at a map, the lake has a unique "S" shape, stretching from north to south. Water flows into Lake Terrien from two other lakes, Lake Outlet Deep and Lake Quessi, located to its north and northeast.
You can get to Lake Terrien by driving about 15 minutes from the entrance of the ZEC. Just follow the Tawachiche East path, which goes along the east side of the lake.
The Terrien Dam
At the southwest end of Lake Terrien, there is a special dam built by the Government of Quebec. This dam helps control the water flow into the Tawachiche River.
The first dam was built way back in 1933. It was rebuilt in 1950 and is about 29 meters (95 feet) long. This dam helps hold back a lot of water, about 512,500 cubic meters (18 million cubic feet)! It is mainly used to help protect wildlife in the area. The dam is owned by the Centre d'expertise hydrique du Québec.
Fun Activities at Lake Terrien
Since 2009, Lake Terrien has become a popular spot for rock climbing. There's a huge granite cliff on the western side of the lake. This cliff is very tall, with some parts going up more than 50 meters (164 feet) straight up! Some climbing routes are nearly 100 meters (328 feet) long.
To reach the bottom of the cliff, you need a boat. The cliff faces south and southeast, which means climbers can enjoy it from March all the way to November. This area is known as Cape Tawachiche. It has a cool Native American legend, and the five climbing sections are named after it: Tomahawk (which includes Chamane, Grand-duc, and Totem), été indien, Attimakekw, Wometaci, and Maskwaaskwaaskwa.
How Lake Terrien Got Its Name
The name "Lake Terrien" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This happened at the "Commission de toponymie du Québec," which is like a special board that names places in Quebec.
Later, on January 24, 2002, the name "Terrien Dam" was also officially recorded by the same board.
