Chibougamau Lake
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Chibougamau Lake is a freshwater body of the municipality of
Chibougamau Chibougamau () is the largest town in Nord-du-Québec, central Quebec, Canada. Located on Lake Gilman, it has a population of 7,233 people (2021 Canadian census). Chibougamau is surrounded by, but not part of, the local municipality of Eeyou ...
, in the administrative region of
Nord-du-Québec Nord-du-Québec (; ) is the largest, but the least populous, of the seventeen administrative regions of Quebec, Canada. Spread over nearly 14 degrees of latitude, north of the 49th parallel, the region covers on the Labrador Peninsula, making ...
, in province of
Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
, in Canada. The surface of Chibougamau Lake is usually frozen from early November to mid-May, however, safe ice circulation is generally from mid-November to mid-April.


Geography

Covering an area of , Lake Chibougamau is located about ten kilometers southeast of the town of the same name, east of the summit of the Tower Mountain () and northwest of
Lac Saint-Jean Lac Saint-Jean (, ) is a large, relatively shallow lake in south-central Quebec, Canada, in the Laurentian Highlands. It is situated north of the Saint Lawrence River, into which it drains via the Saguenay River. It covers an area of , and is ...
. With a length of (in the north-south direction) and in maximum width, this lake is the source of the
Chibougamau River The Chibougamau River flows west in the Chibougamau, then Eeyou Istchee James Bay (municipality) in the administrative region of Nord-du-Québec, Quebec, Canada. From the source, the course of the river successively crosses the townships of: R ...
. Neighboring slopes The surrounding hydrographic slopes of Lake Chibougamau are: *North side:
Waconichi Lake Waconichi Lake is a freshwater body of the Albanel, Mistassini and Waconichi Lakes Wildlife Sanctuary within the Eeyou Istchee Baie-James, in Jamésie, in the administrative region of Nord-du-Québec, in the province of Quebec, in Canada. The su ...
; *East side: Boisvert River; *South side:
Obatogamau Lakes The Obatogamau lakes constitute a group of freshwater bodies of the territory of Eeyou Istchee Baie-James, in the administrative region of Nord-du-Québec, in the Canadian province of Quebec. These lakes extend mainly in the cantons of Dauversiè ...
and
Eau Jaune Lake The Eau Jaune Lake (''English: Yellow Water Lake'') is a freshwater body of the Eeyou Istchee Baie-James, in Jamésie, in the administrative region of Nord-du-Québec, province of Quebec, in Canada. This lake extends entirely into the townships o ...
; *West side: Bourbeau Lake,
Chibougamau River The Chibougamau River flows west in the Chibougamau, then Eeyou Istchee James Bay (municipality) in the administrative region of Nord-du-Québec, Quebec, Canada. From the source, the course of the river successively crosses the townships of: R ...
,
Opémisca Lake Opémisca Lake is a freshwater body of the Eeyou Istchee Baie-James, in Jamésie, in the administrative region of Nord-du-Québec, in the province of Quebec, in Canada. The surface of the lake extends in the cantons of Cuvier, Lévy, Daubrée an ...
and the
Obatogamau River The Obatogamau River is a tributary of the Chibougamau River, flowing into the Regional County Municipality (MRC) of Jamésie, in the Nord-du-Québec, in the province of Quebec, in Canada. The lower and middle portions of the Obatogamau River hyd ...
. Islands Of an irregular shape, Lake Chibougamau is dotted with dozens of islands, the main ones are: Marguerite, Tommy, Boulder, Commissaires and Merrill. The secondary islands are: Okay, Refuge, Gordon, Dewar, Scott, Angover, Breakwater, Mermaid, Annie, Lorenzo, Rudolf, Arthur, Line Phony, Bark Letter, Graphite, Granite, Shatter, Labor Day, Lookout, Sioui, Stanislas, Needle, Martine, Francoise, Gabbro, Eugene, Henry, Last, Alphonse, Yvonne, Boulder and Take it Easy. Main bays Around the lake, the main bays are (in order clockwise, from the north): Magnetite, Bag, Islands, Finger, Nepton, Club, Girard, Sunday, Poitevin, Dufresne, Corner, Line, Third Bay, Second Bay, First Bay, Inlet, Dulieux, Queylus, Turnip Cove, Bug-in-a-Rug, Beginnings, Hematite, Machin, Valiquette, Bear, Cedar, Portage. In his writings, explorer Henry O'Sullivan reports the gentle slope of the shores of the lake, interrupted to the north by the mountains of "The Wizard", Paint and Cummings. In 1895, this explorer indicated that "Shabokoma Lake" would have "a total length of 42 miles, a stretch of water somewhat surprising to have remained unknown until this day. " Main tributaries The main tributaries of Lake Chibougamau are: North Coast: *
France River The France River is a tributary of Chibougamau Lake, flowing into the Regional County Municipality (RCM) of Eeyou Istchee Baie-James and in the city of Chibougamau, in Jamésie, in the administrative region of Nord-du-Québec, in the province o ...
(coming from the east) which flows to the bottom of McKenzie Bay from the north shore of the lake; * Lymburner Lake (coming from the east) discharge into Gunn Bay; East Coast : *Robert Lake outlet, located northeast of the lake; *Roberge Lake outlet, located northeast of the lake; * Nepton River which empties into Nepton Bay; *Forest Lake outlet, located northeast of the lake; *Discharge from Jenozeau Lake flowing south to Girard Bay; *
Armitage River The Armitage River is a tributary of Chibougamau Lake, flowing in the town of Chibougamau, in Jamésie, in the administrative region of Nord-du-Québec, in the province of Quebec, in Canada. The course of the river flows in the townships of Lemoi ...
(from Lake Armitage) flowing north on the east side of the lake; it empties into Girard Bay (located northeast of the lake); South side *Lake Jacques discharge, discharging into Comer Bay; *
Énard River The Énard River is a tributary of Chibougamau Lake, flowing into the municipalities of Eeyou Istchee James Bay and Chibougamau, in Jamésie, in the administrative region of Nord-du-Québec, in the province of Quebec, in Canada. The course of t ...
, draining Inlet Lake and discharging into Inlet Bay; Western coast *Wilson Lake Discharge (coming from the west and northwest); this lake flows into Lac Caché, located on the west side of Lake Chibougamau; * Blondeau River, coming from the west and pouring into McKenzie Bay; Mouth The mouth of the lake is located on the west side, at the end of Commencement Bay. The water flows through the Rainbow Falls at the mouth of the lake (between the northern end of the Gouin Peninsula and the South-West end of Portage Island). Then, the current runs southwest through the North-East bay of
Dorés Lake (Chibougamau River) The Lac aux Dorés (English: Dorés Lake) is a freshwater body in the city of Chibougamau, in Jamésie, in the administrative region of Nord-du-Québec, in the province of Quebec, at Canada. The surface of the lake extends into the townships of Ro ...
(French: "Lac aux Dorés"), which in turn flows southwesterly through a short passage in the "Lac aux Dorés". The latter lake is in parallèle (southwest side) to Lake Chibougamau. Lac aux Dorés is separated from Chibougamau Lake by the Gouin Peninsula. The mouth of "Lac aux Dorés" is located to the south-west at the bottom of the Malouf bay. The hamlet "Obalski" is located south of Chibougamau Lake, along the railway.


Toponymy

In 1831, surveyor Joseph Bouchette uses the names "Utsissagomo" and "Vomiting Lake" to designate this large body of water. Confirmed as early as 1870, the presence of mineral resources raises interest in the region. In parallel, in the 19th century, recreational and tourism activities, including hunting and fishing, are highlighted. In 1871, surveyor Walter McOuat noted: "We did not see anything similar to the chlorite schists of Chibogomou and Wakinitchee aconichilakes." In 1907,
Joseph Obalski Joseph Obalski (14 September 1852 – 25 March 1915) was a French-Canadian mining engineer, civil servant, professor, and author. Born in Châteaubriant, France, of Polish origin from his father's side of the family, Obalski graduated from th ...
, Inspector of Mines of Quebec, uses the current graph "Lac Chibougamau". The current spelling of the lake is in the Dictionary of Rivers and Lakes of the Province of Quebec (1914 and 1925). In 1914, the
Hudson's Bay Company The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC), originally the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Trading Into Hudson’s Bay, is a Canadian holding company of department stores, and the oldest corporation in North America. It was the owner of the ...
moved its deposit to Obatogamau Lakes. Finally, in 1942, the position will cease operations. In the history, the writing of the lake knew several variants: Shabagamog, Shabugama, Shibogama, Shobokoma, Chibougamou, Chibogamo, Shobogoma, Chibougamoo, Shabogama, Chibiogouma. The toponym ''Chibougamau Lake'' was formalized on December 5, 1968, at the Bank of Place Names of the
Commission de toponymie du Québec The Commission de toponymie du Québec (, ''Toponymy Commission of Québec'') is the Government of Québec's public body responsible for cataloging, preserving, making official and publicizing Québec's place names and their origins according to th ...
.Commission de toponymie du Quebec - Bank of Place Names - Toponym: "Chibougamau Lake"
/ref>


Mining

In the Lac Chibougamau area, some mining sites are located on the Gouin Peninsula and northwest of the lake, including Merrill Island. The railway from Saint-Félicien has contributed to the economic development of the region, particularly the mining and forestry sectors. This railway passes south of the lake and joins the village of
Chibougamau Chibougamau () is the largest town in Nord-du-Québec, central Quebec, Canada. Located on Lake Gilman, it has a population of 7,233 people (2021 Canadian census). Chibougamau is surrounded by, but not part of, the local municipality of Eeyou ...
located on the west side of the lake.


See also


Related Articles

*
Chibougamau Chibougamau () is the largest town in Nord-du-Québec, central Quebec, Canada. Located on Lake Gilman, it has a population of 7,233 people (2021 Canadian census). Chibougamau is surrounded by, but not part of, the local municipality of Eeyou ...
, city *
Chibougamau River The Chibougamau River flows west in the Chibougamau, then Eeyou Istchee James Bay (municipality) in the administrative region of Nord-du-Québec, Quebec, Canada. From the source, the course of the river successively crosses the townships of: R ...
, a watercourse *
Courtois Lake (Jamésie) Courtois may refer to: Locations *Courtois-sur-Yonne, a commune in Yonne department, France *Courtois, Missouri, an unincorporated community *Courtois Creek, a creek in Missouri * Courtois Hills, a region in Missouri Persons Painters *Jean Cou ...
, body of water *
Nord-du-Québec Nord-du-Québec (; ) is the largest, but the least populous, of the seventeen administrative regions of Quebec, Canada. Spread over nearly 14 degrees of latitude, north of the 49th parallel, the region covers on the Labrador Peninsula, making ...
, administrative region of
Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
* Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, administrative region of
Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
*
List of lakes of Canada This is a partial list of lakes of Canada. Canada has an extremely large number of lakes, with the number of lakes larger than three square kilometres being estimated at close to 31,752 by the Atlas of Canada. Of these, 561 lakes have a surface ar ...


References


External links

* Albert Peter Low (1881-1942)), geologist, he explored and mapped more than 12,000 km of harsh terrain in Labrador and northern Quebec in the late 1800s
Official website of the city of Chibougamau
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chibougamau, lake Nottaway River drainage basin
Chibougamau Chibougamau () is the largest town in Nord-du-Québec, central Quebec, Canada. Located on Lake Gilman, it has a population of 7,233 people (2021 Canadian census). Chibougamau is surrounded by, but not part of, the local municipality of Eeyou ...