Pikauba Lake facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pikauba Lake
Pikauba Lake Location in Quebec
Location	Lac-Pikauba, Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec
Coordinates	47°47′48″N 71°07′58″W / 47.79667°N 71.13277°W / 47.79667; -71.13277
Type	Naturel
Primary inflows	Four stream discharges.
Primary outflows	Pikauba River and Cyriac River
Basin countries	Canada
Max. length	10.2 km (6.3 mi)
Max. width	1.9 km (1.2 mi)
Shore length1	catchment
Surface elevation	827 m (2,713 ft)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Pikauba Lake is a large lake located in the province of Quebec, Canada. It's an important body of water that feeds into the Chicoutimi River and eventually the Saguenay River. The lake is found in a special area called Lac-Pikauba, which is part of the Charlevoix Regional County Municipality.

This beautiful lake is right in the middle of the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve. This reserve is a protected area, great for nature and outdoor activities.

Getting to Pikauba Lake usually involves using Route 175. This main road connects Quebec City to Saguenay City. Some smaller forest roads also help people get around the area.

The main activities here are forestry, which means managing forests for wood. Tourism is also popular, with people visiting for fun and relaxation.

Pikauba Lake usually freezes over in early December. It stays frozen until late spring. It's generally safe to walk or play on the ice from mid-December to mid-spring.

Exploring Pikauba Lake's Location

Pikauba Lake is about 3.5 km (2.2 mi) northeast of the border between two administrative regions: Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and Capitale-Nationale.

Rivers and Lakes Around Pikauba Lake

Many rivers and lakes are connected to Pikauba Lake. Here are some of the main ones:

• To the North: Cyriac River, Pikauba River, Grand Lac aux Montagnais, Lac Marchand, Lac de l'Enfer, rivière à Mars Nord West.
• To the East: Lac à Mars, Lac des Bouleaux, Rivière à Mars Nord-Ouest, Rivière à Mars, Chemin des Canots River, Malbaie River.
• To the South: Vercheres lake, Philippe stream, Pikauba River, Jacques-Cartier Lake.
• To the West: Pikauba River, Decoigne lake, Noir brook, Pikauba River, Davenport lake, Talbot Lake, Rivière aux Écorces Nord-Est.

Size and Features of Pikauba Lake

Pikauba Lake is about 10.2 km (6.3 mi) long. At its widest point, it measures about 1.9 km (1.2 mi). The lake sits at an elevation of 827 m (2,713 ft) above sea level. Its total area is .

The lake has a bay that stretches for 1.5 km (0.93 mi) to the northwest. One of the lake's outlets, the Pikauba River, starts from the southwest side of this bay. Another outlet is on the north side of a different bay and flows into the Cyriac River.

Pikauba Lake also has other smaller bays:

• A bay on the south side receives water from Lake Verchères.
• A small bay on the east shore gets water from Lac des Bouleaux.
• Another bay on the east shore receives two streams.

There's a narrow part in the lake, like a strait, that's about a hundred meters wide. This separates the northern part of the lake from the rest.

Distances from Pikauba Lake's Outlet

The main outlet of Pikauba Lake is located at the bottom of a bay on the north shore. Here are some distances from this spot:

• 5.8 km (3.6 mi) northeast of Route 175, the road connecting Quebec City and Saguenay City.
• 6.9 km (4.3 mi) east of a bay on the southeast shore of Talbot Lake. The Petite rivière Pikauba flows through Talbot Lake.
• 8.1 km (5.0 mi) southwest of Lac à Mars.
• 8.6 km (5.3 mi) southeast of where Route 175 and Route 169 meet.
• 38.3 km (23.8 mi) southwest of the dam at the start of Lake Ha! Ha!.
• 54.8 km (34.1 mi) southeast of Kenogami Lake.
• 70.3 km (43.7 mi) southeast of where the Chicoutimi River meets the Saguenay River, which is near downtown Saguenay City.

How Water Flows from Pikauba Lake

Water from Pikauba Lake flows into larger river systems:

• Via the Pikauba River: The water travels 138.8 km (86.2 mi) first south, then north. It then enters Kenogami Lake for 19.1 km (11.9 mi) (east, then north).
• Via the Cyriac River: The water flows 57.2 km (35.5 mi) generally north. Then it goes into Kenogami Lake for 7.9 km (4.9 mi) (north).
• From Kenogami Lake: Water then flows into the Rivière aux Sables for 12.3 km (7.6 mi) north.
• Finally, the Saguenay River: The water joins the Saguenay River and travels 151.2 km (94.0 mi) eastward to Tadoussac. There, it mixes with the Saint Lawrence estuary, which leads to the Atlantic Ocean.

The Meaning Behind the Name "Pikauba"

The name "Pikauba" comes from the Innu language, an Indigenous language. The original Innu word is "opikopau." This means "lake constricted by alders." Alders are a type of shrub.

• "Opi" is a part of the word that means something is closed or tightened.
• "Kopau" is an ending that describes a lake with alders, rushes, or other plants.

An old map from 1852 by Frederic William Blaiklock called this lake "Chicoutimi Lake." However, the name "Pikauba" is used for many places in the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve. A map from 1731 by Father Laure shows it as "Ouapikoupau River."

Another idea about the name comes from Father Joseph-Étienne Guinard. He said that in Innu and Cree languages, "pikobaw" means "tightened or masked by rushes." Some even suggest "pikobaw" breaks down to "pik" (small), "kobaw" (brushwood), and "wabi" (white), meaning "white brushwood" or "small brushwood."

Over time, different versions of the name have been used, such as Grand lac Pikauba, Lac Picauba, and Upikauba.

The official name "Lac Pikauba" was formally recognized on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec. This commission is in charge of naming places in Quebec.

Related Articles

• Charlevoix Regional County Municipality
• Lac-Pikauba, an unorganized territory
• Laurentides Wildlife Reserve
• Cyriac River
• Pikauba River
• Kenogami Lake
• Rivière aux Sables
• Chicoutimi River
• Saguenay River