Reservoir Blanc facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Reservoir Blanc |
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| White Reservoir | |
Rapide-Blanc Generating Station with “Reservoir Blanc” upstream
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 Reservoir Blanc
Location in Quebec
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| Location | Mauricie, Quebec, Canada |
| Coordinates | 47°45′08″N 73°12′23″W / 47.75222°N 73.20639°W |
| Lake type | Lake Dam |
| Primary inflows | Saint-Maurice River |
| Primary outflows | Saint-Maurice River |
| Catchment area | 10,079 km2 (3,892 sq mi) |
| Max. length | 54 km (34 mi) |
| Max. width | 2 km (1.2 mi) |
| Surface area | 82.6 km2 (31.9 sq mi) |
| Water volume | 466×106 m3 (16.5×109 cu ft) |
The Réservoir Blanc (which means White Reservoir in English) is a large reservoir in Quebec, Canada. It's located near the city of La Tuque. This huge artificial lake was made in 1930. It was created when the Rapide-Blanc Generating Station dam was built on the Saint-Maurice River.
For 150 years, people used the Saint-Maurice River for "drave." This was a way to transport wood by floating it down the river. This practice ended in 1996. After that, Réservoir Blanc became a popular spot for fun activities. Many people now enjoy boating and fishing there. You can also find hundreds of cottages and some outfitters around the reservoir. These places offer services to visitors.
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Where is Réservoir Blanc?
The shape of Réservoir Blanc was created when the Rapide-Blanc Generating Station dam was built. The dam caused the waters of the Saint-Maurice River to spread out. The reservoir starts at the Rapides-des-Coeurs Generating Station. It stretches for about 22.75 kilometers (14 miles) to the Rapide-Blanc Generating Station.
River Flow and Branches
From the Rapides-des-Coeurs Generating Station, the river flows towards the southeast. First, it goes for two kilometers until it reaches the Windigo River. Then, it flows three more kilometers to a bend near a small area called MacTavish.
At MacTavish, the river gets wider, about two kilometers across. It forms a "T" shape. This is where water from the southwest arm of the reservoir flows in. The water then turns and flows northeast for about 13 kilometers (8 miles). After that, the river branches south for 4.75 kilometers (3 miles) to reach the Rapide-Blanc Generating Station.
Past the Coucoucache area on the north side, the river widens even more. It becomes about 3.5 kilometers (2 miles) wide. This is because of a large bay on the south side.
Railway Crossing and Tributaries
Between MacTavish and Windigo, the Canadian National Railway crosses part of the Réservoir Blanc. It runs for about 5.75 kilometers (3.5 miles) on a pier. This crossing is near the west bank, where the river forms its "T" shape.
From this "T" shape, the southwest branch of the reservoir is six kilometers (3.7 miles) long. It then branches south for another 2.75 kilometers (1.7 miles). This leads to White Island and a place called "La pourvoirie du lac Oscar Inc." The Flamand river also flows into this southwest arm of Réservoir Blanc.
Rivers Flowing into Réservoir Blanc
Many smaller rivers and creeks flow into Réservoir Blanc.
- On the north side, these include the Windigo, Indian Creek, Jolie River, Pierriche, and Little Pierriche.
- On the south side, water comes from Cadieux Creek and Mazurette Creek. Cadieux Creek flows east near the "Rapids of the head of Rapide-Blanc." Mazurette Creek flows north, across from where the Pierriche River enters.
What's in a Name?
The name Réservoir Blanc used to be called Réservoir du Rapide Blanc in French. This name remembers the "Rapide-Blanc," which were rapids on the Saint-Maurice River. These rapids were flooded when the Rapide-Blanc Generating Station dam was built.
Now, only the rapides de la Tête du Rapide-Blanc (which means "rapids at the head of Rapide-Blanc") remain. These are located downstream from the dam. The name of these rapids has been known for a very long time, since at least the 1800s.
