Lichen Lake (Opawica River) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lichen Lake |
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Watershed of Nottaway River
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 Lichen Lake
Location in Quebec
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| Location | Eeyou Istchee Baie-James (municipality) |
| Coordinates | 49°28′17″N 75°48′21″W / 49.47139°N 75.80583°W |
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| Primary outflows | Opawica River (Wachigabau Lake) |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 30.0 kilometres (18.6 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.9 kilometres (1.2 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 302 metres (991 ft) |
Lichen Lake is a freshwater lake in Quebec, Canada. The Opawica River flows right through it. You can find it in the southeastern part of a big area called Eeyou Istchee James Bay.
The main activity around the lake is logging, which means cutting down trees. People also enjoy fun activities like boating and fishing. You can travel by boat for 30.0 kilometres (18.6 mi) across Lichen Lake. This connects to Wachigabau Lake, adding another 31.5 kilometres (19.6 mi) of waterway.
Lichen Lake is actually a wider part of the Opawica River. It flows into Wachigabau Lake, which has a dam at its end.
Getting to the lake is easy. A forest road, Route 113, runs northwest of Opawica Lake. This road connects the towns of Chibougamau and Lebel-sur-Quévillon. A train track also runs along the north side of the lake. It's on a narrow strip of land between Opawica Lake and Wachigabau Lake.
The lake usually freezes over from early November to mid-May. But it's safest to walk or play on the ice from mid-November to mid-April.
Contents
About Lichen Lake
Lichen Lake is a wide part of the Opawica River. It is about 30.0 kilometres (18.6 mi) long. At its widest point, it measures 1.9 kilometres (1.2 mi) across. The lake sits at an elevation of 302 metres (991 ft) above sea level.
If you look at a map, the lake has a unique shape. It looks a lot like a big letter "Z" lying on its side. The southwestern part of the lake stretches out for 7.7 kilometres (4.8 mi). This is where water from Céré Lake flows in.
What Feeds the Lake?
Lichen Lake gets most of its water from two main sources:
- The Opawica River, which flows in from the northeast. This river comes from Lessard Lake, which is just 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) higher.
- The Nicobi River, which flows into Lichen Lake from the south.
The Opawica River flows through Lichen Lake and then Wachigabau Lake. After that, it empties into Opawica Lake. It enters Opawica Lake at two spots, on either side of Gull Island. This island is 5.1 kilometres (3.2 mi) long and 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) wide.
Where is Lichen Lake?
The main exit point of Lichen Lake is in the northern part of its western side. This area is in the Lespérance township.
Here are some distances from the lake's exit:
- 15.3 kilometres (9.5 mi) southwest of the end of Wachigabau Lake.
- 25.6 kilometres (15.9 mi) south of where the Opawica River officially ends.
- 26.8 kilometres (16.7 mi) southeast of the village of Waswanipi.
- 81.2 kilometres (50.5 mi) southeast of the end of Goéland Lake.
- 293 kilometres (182 mi) southeast of the end of the Nottaway River.
- 125 kilometres (78 mi) east of the town of Matagami.
- 127 kilometres (79 mi) southwest of the town of Chibougamau.
Nearby Rivers and Lakes
Many other rivers and lakes are close to Lichen Lake. They are all part of the same water system.
- North side: Wachigabau Lake, Opawica Lake, Opawica River, Chibougamau River, Waswanipi River.
- East side: Opawica River, Germain Creek, Germain Lake, Lessard Lake, Doda Lake.
- South side: Margry Creek, Margry Lake, Nicobi River, Nicobi Lake, Pierrefonds River.
- West side: Wachigabau Lake, Auger Creek, Bachelor River, Lake Waswanipi, Pusticamica Lake.
The Opawica River flows for 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from the dam at Opawica Lake. It first goes northeast, then turns northwest. It then meets the Chibougamau River. When these two rivers join, they form the beginning of the Waswanipi River.
Why is it Called Lichen Lake?
The name "Lichen Lake" comes from a type of plant called lichen. Lichen grows in cold, northern places. It's a very tough plant that can survive bad weather.
Many large animals, like caribou, love to eat lichen. It's common in North America to name places after plants. The official name "Lac Lichen" was given on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec.
