Mékinac Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mékinac lake |
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| Location | Trois-Rives, non organized territory of Lac-Masketsi, Quebec |
| Type | natural |
| Primary inflows | Rivière du milieu (Mékinac), creek sleigh, creek Grosleau, creek Bastien, creek Pronovost |
| Primary outflows | Mékinac River |
| Catchment area | St. Lawrence River |
| Basin countries |  Canada  Quebec |
| Max. length | 18 km (11 mi) |
| Max. width | 2.0 km (1 mi) |
| Surface area | 22.77 km2 (8.79 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 146 m (479 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 165 m (541 ft) |
| Settlements | Trois-Rives, La Tuque |
Mékinac Lake is a large freshwater lake in the province of Quebec, Canada. It is mostly located in the municipality of Trois-Rives. This area is part of the Mekinac Regional County Municipality in the Mauricie region. The northern part of the lake also reaches into La Tuque (urban agglomeration).
What's in a Name? The Story of Mékinac
The name of Mékinac Lake comes from the First Nations people. The Algonquin people lived by the lake. They thought a high point of land looked like a turtle. So, they named it makinak, which means "snapping turtle" in the Ojibwe language. The French later used a similar sound, calling it Mékinac.
The name "Lake Mékinac" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This was done by the "Bank of place names" of the Commission de toponymie du Québec. The name "Mekinac" has been used for a long time. It appeared in records as early as 1808. It was also mentioned in books and maps in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Exploring Mékinac Lake's Geography
Mékinac Lake has a unique shape, like a cross. This is because of two bays that form the "arms" in the middle of the lake.
- The "Arm Bigué" is on the west side. It gets water from a smaller lake called "lac aux sleighs".
- The "Grosleau Arms" is on the east side. It receives water from Lake Gélinas, which is up in the mountains.
On the west side of the northern part of the lake, there's a camping spot. It's at the bottom of a mountain called "Cap à l'aigle" (Cape Eagle). The views from here are amazing!
Mékinac Lake covers about 23 square kilometers (8.8 square miles). It is about 18 kilometers (11 miles) long and 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) wide. The lake's water flows into the Mékinac River. This river then joins the Saint-Maurice River. A dam at the end of Mékinac Lake helps control the water. It was rebuilt in 2011 and 2012.
The two main streams that feed Mékinac Lake are:
- The Rivière du milieu (River of the Middle), which flows into the northern part of the lake from the east.
- The water from Missionary Lake, which flows in near the Mékinac dam.
To reach the lake by road, it's about 99 kilometers (61 miles) north of Trois-Rivières. Or, it's about 52 kilometers (32 miles) from Grand-Mère. You can take Route 155 north along the Saint-Maurice River. Then, you turn onto Saint-Joseph path towards Saint-Joseph-de-Mékinac, Quebec. This is a historic village known for its logging, farming, and tourism. After the village, you turn left onto "Chemin du lac Mékinac" (Lake Mékinac Road).
A Look Back: History of Mékinac Lake
There's a special place on the east side of Mékinac Lake called the "Trou-du-Steamboat". This name means "Steamboat Hole." It's a peninsula near the "Grosleau Arm" bay. The mountains here are quite tall, making it hard for boats to find shelter when the wind gets strong.
This spot got its name because a steamboat used to hide there. When the lake became too rough, the steamboat would go through a narrow passage (about 270 meters wide) into the "Grosleau Arm" bay. It would find safety in one of the bay's smaller coves. This steamboat sank in the 1930s near this same peninsula. The "Bigué Arm" bay was another safe spot for boats.
The steamboat was important for moving around the lake. It helped transport forestry workers and supplies to logging camps around the lake. The "Trou-du-Steamboat" name was officially recorded on January 25, 1990.
