Surprise Lake (Roy River) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Surprise Lake |
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Watershed of Nottaway River
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 Surprise Lake
Location in Quebec
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| Location | Eeyou Istchee James Bay (municipality) |
| Coordinates | 49°20′38″N 74°52′37″W / 49.34389°N 74.87694°W |
| Type | Natural |
| Primary inflows | Roy River, Evrey stream, Yvonne River, outlet of a set of lakes including lake Phooey. |
| Primary outflows | Roy River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 15.7 kilometres (9.8 mi) |
| Max. width | 8.4 kilometres (5.2 mi) |
| Surface area | 55 kilometres (34 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 372 metres (1,220 ft) |
Surprise Lake is a freshwater lake in Quebec, Canada. It is located in the southeastern part of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay (municipality) area. This region is in Nord-du-Québec, a large administrative area in Quebec.
The lake stretches across several areas called townships, including Druillettes and Langloiserie. It is located south of the town of Chapais, Quebec.
Logging is the main activity around the lake. Tourism, like boating and fishing, is also important. This is because there are many lakes and rivers nearby that are great for exploring.
You can reach Surprise Lake by forest roads. These roads help people get to the western side of the lake.
The surface of Surprise Lake is usually frozen from early November until mid-May. However, it's safest to be on the ice from mid-November to mid-April.
About Surprise Lake
Surprise Lake is quite large, covering an area of 55 square kilometers (about 21 square miles). It has a very uneven shoreline that stretches over 80 kilometers (about 50 miles). The lake looks a bit like a bird's head facing east, with its beak open.
This lake has many interesting features:
- It has several islands, including a main island in the middle that is 6.5 kilometers (about 4 miles) long.
- There are also many peninsulas, which are pieces of land sticking out into the water. Two of these are on the east side, measuring 2.9 km and 4.1 km long.
- The lake has many bays. Some of these bays are connected by narrow passages. For example, West Bay collects water from Phooey Lake. South Bay gets water from the Yvonne River.
The Roy River flows through Surprise Lake. This river is a branch of the Opawica River. Surprise Lake also gets water from the Opawica River on its east side.
Water Flow and Nearby Rivers
Surprise Lake is part of a big network of rivers and lakes. The Roy River flows into and out of Surprise Lake. The lake is also connected to Caopatina Lake to the south.
From the mouth of Surprise Lake, the water flows north. It eventually joins the Irene River.
Here are some distances from the mouth of Surprise Lake to other important places:
- 5.9 kilometers (3.7 miles) south of the mouth of the Roy River.
- 12.5 kilometers (7.8 miles) south of the mouth of Caopatina Lake.
- 100.6 kilometers (62.5 miles) east of where the Opawica River meets the Chibougamau River.
- 430 kilometers (267 miles) southeast of the mouth of the Nottaway River.
- 66.3 kilometers (41.2 miles) south of downtown Chibougamau.
- 53.9 kilometers (33.5 miles) southeast of the village of Chapais, Quebec.
Many other rivers and lakes are close to Surprise Lake:
- To the North: Opawica River, Caopatina Lake, Irene River.
- To the East: Verviers Lake, Chrysologue Lake, Opawica River, Gabriel Lake (Opawica River).
- To the South: Roy River, Yvonne River, Pambrun Lake.
- To the West: Aigle River (Doda Lake), Hébert River, Doda Lake.
Why is it Called Surprise Lake?
The name "Surprise Lake" was officially given on November 18, 1935. In 2018, there were 29 lakes in Quebec with the name "Surprise Lake"! These lakes are all different sizes and shapes. They are usually found in mountainous or northern areas.
The name might have come from how the first travelers felt when they explored this complex lake by canoe. It could have been a "surprise" to navigate such a winding and intricate body of water.
The official name "Lake Surprise" was confirmed on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is the organization in charge of place names in Quebec.
