Soscumica Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Soscumica Lake |
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Watershed of Nattaway River
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 Soscumica Lake
Location in Quebec
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| Location | Baie-James, Quebec |
| Coordinates | 50°16′21″N 77°27′33″W / 50.27250°N 77.45917°W |
| Type | Natural |
| Primary inflows | Muskiki River, Nottaway River, Deux Lacs River. |
| Max. length | 39.9 kilometres (24.8 mi) |
| Max. width | 8.8 kilometres (5.5 mi) |
| Surface area | 66.97 square kilometres (25.86 sq mi) |
Soscumica Lake is a large lake located in the southern part of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay area in Quebec, Canada. This beautiful lake is found in the Nord-du-Québec region. A small part of its southern end reaches into Millet Township.
The main activity around Soscumica Lake is forestry, which means managing and using forests. After forestry, recreational tourism is very popular. People enjoy activities like hunting and fishing here. The lake and its connecting rivers are great for boating.
Getting to Soscumica Lake is fairly easy. The James Bay Highway runs north-south about 22.8 kilometres (14.2 mi) to the east of the lake. On the west side, there's a winter road that also goes north-south. The lake usually freezes over from early November to mid-May. However, it's generally safe to travel on the ice from mid-November to mid-April.
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Exploring Soscumica Lake's Geography
Soscumica Lake is shaped like a big "V" that opens towards the southwest. It is about 39.9 kilometres (24.8 mi) long. The northern part of the "V" stretches about 20 kilometres (12 mi) from east to west. The other arm, running north to south, is about 23 kilometres (14 mi) long.
The width of the lake usually ranges from 1 to 5 kilometres (3.1 mi). However, one bay, where the Muskiki River flows in, is wider, reaching about 8.8 kilometres (5.5 mi). Soscumica Lake has many interesting features like islands, peninsulas (land almost surrounded by water), and bays.
Rivers and Nearby Areas
The Nottaway River flows through Soscumica Lake. This river drains water from Lake Matagami, which is located to the south. The point where the Nottaway River meets Soscumica Lake is about 44.4 kilometres (27.6 mi) north of the town of Matagami, Quebec. Soscumica Lake is also about 19 kilometres (12 mi) south of Kauskwepatinach Hill, which is 322 metres (1,056 ft) high.
Many rivers and lakes are close to Soscumica Lake:
- To the North: The Muskiki River, Iskaskunikaw River, and Pauschikushish Ewiwach River.
- To the East: The Waswanipi River, Ouescapis Lake, Poncheville Lake, Chensagi River, and Maicasagi River.
- To the South: The Nottaway River and Lake Matagami.
- To the West: The Nottaway River, Deux Lacs River, Montreuil Lake, and Kitchigama River.
Where the Lake's Water Flows Out
The water from Soscumica Lake eventually flows out and travels a long way. The mouth of the lake is located:
- About 123.8 kilometres (76.9 mi) southeast of where the Nottaway River meets Rupert Bay.
- About 65 kilometres (40 mi) north of downtown Matagami.
- About 130.8 kilometres (81.3 mi) east of the border between Quebec and Ontario.
- About 36 kilometres (22 mi) northwest of the mouth of Lake Matagami.
The Name of Soscumica Lake
The name "Soscumica" has an interesting history. A geologist named Robert Bell explored the Nottaway River in 1895-1896. He translated "Soscumica" to mean "slippery shores." This name might come from the terms "soos'koskumikaw" or "soo'skwaw," which mean "slippery," combined with "oskumikaw," meaning "soil" or "ground."
The name "Lac Soscumica" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This happened when the Commission de toponymie du Québec was created, which is a group responsible for naming places in Quebec.
