Lake Wayagamac facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Wayagamac |
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 Lake Wayagamac
Location in Quebec
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| Location | La Tuque, Canada |
| Coordinates | 47°22′29″N 72°38′40″W / 47.37472°N 72.64445°W |
| Type | Natural |
The Wayagamac Lake is a beautiful lake found in La Tuque, a city in Quebec, Canada. For a long time, until 2006, the area around the lake was a separate unorganized territory called Petit-Lac-Wayagamac. Later, it became part of the city of La Tuque. The Zec de la Bessonne helps manage and protect the lake's area.
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Lake Wayagamac's Location and Shape
Wayagamac Lake is about 10 kilometers (6 miles) southeast of La Tuque. It is surrounded by the Laurentides mountains. Some of these mountains are taller than 400 meters (1,300 feet)!
This lake is located in the Upper-Mauricie region. It is divided into three main parts. The largest part is on the west side. The lake stretches about 9.2 kilometers (5.7 miles) from east to west. It is also about 5.9 kilometers (3.7 miles) wide from north to south.
Two main streams flow into Wayagamac Lake. One comes from "Petit lac Wayagamac" (Small Wayagamac Lake). This lake is about 4.4 kilometers (2.7 miles) to the east. The other stream comes from Tom Lake, which is about 1.2 kilometers (0.7 miles) to the south.
The Little Bostonnais River
The Little Bostonnais River starts from Petit lac Wayagamac. It flows for about 4.4 kilometers (2.7 miles) before joining Wayagamac Lake on its southeast side.
Water from Wayagamac Lake then flows out from the west side into the Little Bostonnais River. This part of the river is about 10.6 kilometers (6.6 miles) long. It flows between the lake and a dam. The river then empties into the Saint-Maurice River. This happens near the southern edge of La Tuque, just south of the airport.
In total, water from Petit lac Wayagamac travels about 23.6 kilometers (14.7 miles) along the Little Bostonnais River. About 8.6 kilometers (5.3 miles) of this journey is through Wayagamac Lake itself.
Wildlife and Water Use
The area around Wayagamac Lake is managed by the zec de la Bessonne. A "zec" is a special type of territory in Québec. Unlike some protected areas, logging (cutting down trees) and mining are allowed here.
A large group of herons lives on Steamboat Island. This island is located in the middle of Wayagamac Lake. Many other birds also make their home there. The lake is also important because it provides drinking water for the city of La Tuque.
The Wayagamac Dam
The Wayagamac Dam was built in 1953. It is a strong dam, 55 meters (180 feet) long and 6 meters (20 feet) high. It can hold a huge amount of water, about 145 million cubic meters! The dam is made of a strong outer layer filled with stones.
The dam is named after Wayagamac Lake. The name "Dam Wayagamac" was officially recorded on May 11, 1987. Its exact location is at 72° 41' 50" West longitude and 47° 23' 02" North latitude.
What's in a Name?
The name "Wayagamac" has an interesting history. According to Father G. Lemoine, the word "waweia gamak" comes from the Algonquin language. It means "at Round Lake." Another expert, Father Joseph-Étienne Guinard, thought "waiagamak" (or "wawiagamaw") also meant "Round Lake."
However, Wayagamac Lake is actually more triangular than round! The name, spelled "Wayagamack," was first mentioned in 1876. This was in a report by a surveyor named Télésphore Chavigny Of Chevrotière.
By 1913, the name Wayagamack was also used for a pulp and paper factory. This factory was located in Trois-Rivières.
The name "Lake Wayagamac" was officially registered on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a naming board for places in Quebec.
Today, the Kruger company owns the Kruger Wayagamack factory. They bought it in 2001 with the help of the Société générale de financement du Québec. This factory is still in Trois-Rivières.
