Lake Waswanipi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Waswanipi |
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Watershed of Nottaway River
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 Lake Waswanipi
Location in Quebec
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| Location | Baie-James, Quebec |
| Coordinates | 49°33′07″N 76°27′00″W / 49.55194°N 76.45000°W |
| Type | Natural |
| Primary inflows | Waswanipi River, O'Sullivan River, Bachelor River, Taylor creek, Ailly creek |
| Primary outflows | Waswanipi River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 39.4 kilometres (24.5 mi) |
| Max. width | 13.4 kilometres (8.3 mi) |
| Surface area | 184.79 kilometres (114.82 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 267 metres (876 ft) |
Lake Waswanipi is a large lake located in the Eeyou Istchee Baie-James area of Quebec, Canada. It's found in the Nord-du-Québec region.
This lake is an important natural feature in the area. It stretches across several townships, including Bergères and Bossé. The main activities around the lake are forestry (cutting down trees) and tourism, like fishing and enjoying nature.
Getting to Lake Waswanipi is possible using the James Bay Road. Forest roads also help people reach the southern parts of the lake. A railway line, the Canadian National Railway, also passes by the south side of the lake.
The lake's surface usually freezes over from early November until mid-May. However, it's generally safe to travel on the ice from mid-November to mid-April.
What's in a Name?
The name Waswanipi comes from the Cree language. It's a combination of two words: wâswâ- meaning "to fish at night using a torch" and nipî meaning "water." So, the name is often translated as "light over the water." This refers to an old way of fishing at night by using torches to attract fish.
Long ago, there was a Cree summer village on an island in the lake, also called Waswanipi. In the 1970s, the people from this village moved to a new community, also named Waswanipi, located where Route 113 meets the Waswanipi River.
The name Waswanipi Lake was officially recognized on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Quebec, which is like a special committee for place names in Quebec.
A Look Back in Time
In 1916, a company called Quebec Fisheries started fishing in Lake Waswanipi on a large scale. The lake was full of fish like sturgeon, trout, and pike. This big fishing operation continued until 1930.
In October 1971, the lake faced a serious problem. High levels of mercury were found in the water. Because of this, the Cree people were advised to stop fishing in Lake Waswanipi and avoid eating fish from it. This situation was a big concern for the Cree community, as fishing was a major part of their way of life.
Where is Lake Waswanipi?
Lake Waswanipi is located south of the Cree village of Waswanipi. It's west of Chapais and east of Matagami. It's also about 60 kilometres (37 mi) south of Lebel-sur-Quévillon.
The main rivers and lakes connected to Lake Waswanipi are:
- North: The Waswanipi River and Nomans River.
- East: The Bachelor River and Bachelor Lake.
- South: The O'Sullivan River and Pusticamica Lake.
- West: The Iserhoff River and Goéland Lake.
Lake Waswanipi is shaped a bit like the letter "V". It is about 80 kilometres (50 mi) southeast of Lake Matagami and 20 kilometres (12 mi) southeast of Goéland Lake. The Waswanipi River flows through both Lake Waswanipi and Goéland Lake.
The lake is quite large, measuring about 39.4 kilometres (24.5 mi) long and 13.4 kilometres (8.3 mi) wide at its widest point. Its total area is just over 205 kilometres (127.38 mi).
