Leamy Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leamy Lake |
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looking west
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 Leamy Lake
Location in Quebec
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| Location | Gatineau, Quebec |
| Coordinates | 45°27′05″N 75°43′20″W / 45.45139°N 75.72222°W |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 0.75 km (0.47 mi) |
| Max. width | 0.65 km (0.40 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 48 m (157 ft) |
Leamy Lake (in French: Lac Leamy) is a beautiful lake located in the Hull area of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. It's a popular spot for outdoor activities and a key part of the local landscape.
The lake sits just south of the Gatineau River and west of the Ottawa River. It is connected to both of these larger rivers. Water flows into Leamy Lake from the Gatineau River and then flows out into the Ottawa River. To the south, Leamy Lake is also linked to Lac de la Carrière, which used to be a quarry but is now another lake.
Contents
History of Leamy Lake
How Leamy Lake Got Its Name
Leamy Lake is named after Andrew Leamy, an early Irish settler in the region. Andrew Leamy was important because he ran a mill near the lake. He was married to Erexina Wright, whose grandfather, Philemon Wright, was the founder of Hull.
From Industry to Park
In the 1800s, the area around Leamy Lake became very industrial. Many factories and businesses were built there. After the Second World War, much of this industry moved away.
In the 1960s, a big change happened. The land around the lake was transformed into a large park. The beach along the lake became a favorite place for people to go swimming.
Solving Pollution Problems
Even though the beach was popular, there were ongoing issues with pollution. Most of this pollution came from the Gatineau River flowing into the lake. To fix this, the channel connecting the Gatineau River to Leamy Lake was blocked in the 1970s. This helped reduce some of the pollution.
By the 1990s, the Gatineau River had become much cleaner. However, blocking the channel caused new problems for the lake, as the water became stagnant (not flowing). So, the channel was reopened, allowing fresh water to flow through again.
Attractions Near Leamy Lake
On the southern side of Leamy Lake, between it and Lac de la Carrière, you'll find the Casino du Lac-Leamy. This casino is one of the main tourist attractions in the Gatineau region, drawing many visitors each year.
