Ouiatchouan Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ouiatchouan Lake |
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 Ouiatchouan Lake
Location in Quebec
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| Location | Lac-Bouchette, Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada |
| Coordinates | 48°16′22″N 72°11′02″W / 48.27278°N 72.18389°W |
| Type | Natural |
| Primary inflows | (clockwise from the mouth) Ouiatchouan River |
| Primary outflows | Ouiatchouan River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 2.1 kilometres (1.3 mi) |
| Max. width | 0.9 kilometres (0.56 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 307 metres (1,007 ft) |
| Settlements | Baie-Comeau |
Lac Ouiatchouan is a beautiful freshwater lake in Quebec, Canada. It's located right in the heart of the village of Lac-Bouchette. This lake is a popular spot for fun activities like boating and fishing. It's surrounded by farms and forests, making it a great place to visit and enjoy nature. Its old name was Lac Ouiatchouane.
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Exploring Lac Ouiatchouan's Geography
Lac Ouiatchouan is about 2.1 kilometers (1.3 miles) long from north to south. It's also about 0.9 kilometers (0.56 miles) wide at its widest point. This lake is actually a wider part of the Ouiatchouan River.
How the Lake Gets its Water
Lac Ouiatchouan gets its water from a channel in the southwest. This channel connects it to another lake called Lac Bouchette. Together, these two lakes form a long body of water, stretching about 6.3 kilometers (3.9 miles).
A narrow strip of land, about 0.5 kilometers (0.3 miles) wide, separates Lac Bouchette and Lac Ouiatchouan. This strip has a channel called "the Pass," which is about 250 meters (820 feet) long. The Hermitage road also crosses this land, leading to the Ermitage Saint-Antoine on the west side of the lake.
The water that fills Lac Ouiatchouan originally comes from Lac des Commissaires. From there, it flows into the Rivière des Commissaires, which then flows into Lac Bouchette, and finally into Lac Ouiatchouan.
Islands and Rivers in the Lake
Lac Ouiatchouan has three islands. The biggest one is Montmorency Island, found in the northern part of the lake. The Qui-Mène-du-Train river flows into the eastern shore of Lac Ouiatchouan, right in the village of Lac-Bouchette.
The Ouiatchouan River's Journey
The water from Lac Ouiatchouan flows out from the northwest into the Ouiatchouan River. This river then travels about 28 kilometers (17 miles) north. It eventually reaches Lac Saint-Jean, a much larger lake. Most of the Ouiatchouan River flows through forests, but the last two kilometers (1.2 miles) pass through farmland.
Roads and Railways Near the Lake
Route 155 is a main road that runs along the eastern side of both Lac Bouchette and Lac Ouiatchouan. This road goes right through the village of Lac-Bouchette, which is located on the eastern shore of these lakes.
The Canadian National train tracks also run along the western side of Lac Ouiatchouan. They go between the village and the northern end of the lake.
The Name of the Lake
The name "Ouiatchouan" was officially recorded on September 5, 1985. This was done by the Place Names Bank of the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a special committee that names places in Quebec.
