Lake of Two Mountains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake of Two Mountains |
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Île aux Tourtes Bridge across Lake of Two Mountains, with Mont Oka in the background
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Location map of Lake of Two Mountains
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 Lake of Two Mountains
Location in Quebec
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| Location | Deux-Montagnes RCM / Vaudreuil-Soulanges RCM / Montreal, Quebec |
| Coordinates | 45°27′N 74°00′W / 45.450°N 74.000°W |
| Native name | Lac des Deux Montagnes Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help) |
| Primary inflows | Ottawa River |
| Primary outflows | Rivière des Mille Îles, Rivière des Prairies |
| Basin countries | Canada |
The Lake of Two Mountains (French: Lac des Deux Montagnes) is a large lake in Quebec, Canada. It is actually a wide part of the Ottawa River where it meets the St. Lawrence River. Think of it like a big, calm area where two major rivers join together.
This lake has four different places where its water flows out. Two of these are rivers called Rivière des Mille Îles and Rivière des Prairies. These rivers flow around a large island called Île Jésus. The other two outflows are branches of the Ottawa River itself. They flow into another lake called Lake Saint-Louis, on either side of Île Perrot.
Several communities are located along the shores of the Lake of Two Mountains. The city of Deux-Montagnes is on the north side. The southwest part of the big city of Montreal also touches the eastern side of the lake. The village of Senneville is also nearby. You can also find Kanesatake, which is a special area for the Mohawk First Nation, along the northern shore.
Why is it Called Lake of Two Mountains?
The name of the lake has changed a few times over history. In 1612, a French explorer named Samuel de Champlain called it lac des Médicis. Later, around 1632, it was renamed lac des Soissons.
By about 1684, French colonists started calling it Lac des Deux Montagnes. This name means "Lake of Two Mountains" in English. It refers to two important hills that you can see from the lake. These are Calvaire Mountain and Saint-Joseph-du-Lac Hill. They are the two highest peaks of a larger hill area called Mont Oka, located on the northern side of the lake.
See also
- In Spanish: Lago de las Dos Montañas para niños
