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Lac Saint-Jean: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 48°35′40″N 72°01′48″W / 48.59444°N 72.03000°W / 48.59444; -72.03000
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Added information and reference about its Aboriginal name.
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{{Infobox lake
{{Infobox lake
| name = Lac Saint-Jean
| name = Lac Saint-Jean
| native name = Piekuakami
| image = Lac St-Jean 71.94640W 48.69243N.jpg
| image = Lac St-Jean 71.94640W 48.69243N.jpg
| caption =
| caption =
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}}
}}


'''Lac Saint-Jean''' is a large, relatively shallow [[lake]] in south-central [[Quebec]], [[Canada]], in the [[Laurentian Highlands]]. It is situated 206 kilometres north of the [[Saint Lawrence River]], into which it drains via the [[Saguenay River]]. It covers an area of {{convert|1053|km2|abbr=on}}, and is {{convert|63.1|m|abbr=on}} at its deepest point. The water is reddish yellow.
'''Lac Saint-Jean''' is a large, relatively shallow [[lake]] in south-central [[Quebec]], [[Canada]], in the [[Laurentian Highlands]]. It is situated 206 kilometres north of the [[Saint Lawrence River]], into which it drains via the [[Saguenay River]]. It covers an area of {{convert|1053|km2|abbr=on}}, and is {{convert|63.1|m|abbr=on}} at its deepest point. The water is reddish yellow. Its name in the [[Innu]] [[Cree language|language]] is '''Piekuakami'''.<ref name="Innu-aimun.ca">[http://www.innu-aimun.ca/dictionary/Words Innu-aimun.ca: Piekuakami]</ref>


==Description==
==Description==
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The lake is fed by dozens of small rivers, including the [[Ashuapmushuan River|Ashuapmushuan]], the [[Mistassini River|Mistassini]], the [[Peribonka River|Peribonka]], the [[Des Aulnaies River|Des Aulnaies]], the [[Métabetchouane River|Métabetchouane]], and the [[Ouiatchouane River|Ouiatchouane]]. The towns on its shores include [[Alma, Quebec|Alma]], [[Dolbeau-Mistassini]], [[Roberval, Quebec|Roberval]], [[Normandin, Quebec|Normandin]], and [[Saint-Félicien, Quebec|Saint-Félicien]]. Three [[List of regional county municipalities and equivalent territories in Quebec|Regional County Municipalities]] lie on its shores: [[Lac-Saint-Jean-Est Regional County Municipality|Lac-Saint-Jean-Est]], [[Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality|Le Domaine-du-Roy]], and [[Maria-Chapdelaine Regional County Municipality|Maria-Chapdelaine]].
The lake is fed by dozens of small rivers, including the [[Ashuapmushuan River|Ashuapmushuan]], the [[Mistassini River|Mistassini]], the [[Peribonka River|Peribonka]], the [[Des Aulnaies River|Des Aulnaies]], the [[Métabetchouane River|Métabetchouane]], and the [[Ouiatchouane River|Ouiatchouane]]. The towns on its shores include [[Alma, Quebec|Alma]], [[Dolbeau-Mistassini]], [[Roberval, Quebec|Roberval]], [[Normandin, Quebec|Normandin]], and [[Saint-Félicien, Quebec|Saint-Félicien]]. Three [[List of regional county municipalities and equivalent territories in Quebec|Regional County Municipalities]] lie on its shores: [[Lac-Saint-Jean-Est Regional County Municipality|Lac-Saint-Jean-Est]], [[Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality|Le Domaine-du-Roy]], and [[Maria-Chapdelaine Regional County Municipality|Maria-Chapdelaine]].


The lake was initially named Piékouagami (Flat Lake) by the Kakouchak [[Innu]] who lived on its shores. It was given its French name after [[Jean de Quen]], a [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]] missionary who in 1647 was the first European to reach its shores.
The lake was named Piekuakami by the [[Innu]]. It was given its French name after [[Jean de Quen]], a [[Society of Jesus|Jesuit]] missionary who in 1647 was the first European to reach its shores.


Industry on the lake was dominated by the [[fur trade]] until the 19th century. Colonization began in the [[Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean]] region in the early 19th century and continued intensively until the early 20th century. Industry was mainly forestry and agriculture. In the 20th century, [[pulp and paper industry|pulp and paper]] mills and [[aluminum]] smelting rose to importance, encouraged by [[hydroelectricity|hydroelectric]] dams at Alma and on the Péribonka River. Lac Saint-Jean also has an important summer resort and sport-fishing industry.
Industry on the lake was dominated by the [[fur trade]] until the 19th century. Colonization began in the [[Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean]] region in the early 19th century and continued intensively until the early 20th century. Industry was mainly forestry and agriculture. In the 20th century, [[pulp and paper industry|pulp and paper]] mills and [[aluminum]] smelting rose to importance, encouraged by [[hydroelectricity|hydroelectric]] dams at Alma and on the Péribonka River. Lac Saint-Jean also has an important summer resort and sport-fishing industry.

Revision as of 21:22, 20 December 2015

Lac Saint-Jean
Lac Saint-Jean is located in Quebec
Lac Saint-Jean
Location in Quebec
LocationSaguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, Quebec
Coordinates48°35′40″N 72°01′48″W / 48.59444°N 72.03000°W / 48.59444; -72.03000
Typeimpact crater lake
Primary inflowsAshuapmushuan, Mistassini, Peribonka, Des Aulnaies, Métabetchouan, Ouiatchouane
Primary outflowsSaguenay River
Catchment area71,947 km2 (27,779 sq mi)
Basin countriesCanada
Max. length43.8 km (27.2 mi)
Max. width24 km (15 mi)
Surface area1,053 km2 (407 sq mi)
Average depth11.4 m (37 ft)
Max. depth63.1 m (207 ft)
Water volume11.9 km3 (2.9 cu mi)
Surface elevation99.6 m (327 ft)
References[1]

Lac Saint-Jean is a large, relatively shallow lake in south-central Quebec, Canada, in the Laurentian Highlands. It is situated 206 kilometres north of the Saint Lawrence River, into which it drains via the Saguenay River. It covers an area of 1,053 km2 (407 sq mi), and is 63.1 m (207 ft) at its deepest point. The water is reddish yellow. Its name in the Innu language is Piekuakami.[2]

Description

Lac Saint-Jean from Saint-Gédéon

The lake is fed by dozens of small rivers, including the Ashuapmushuan, the Mistassini, the Peribonka, the Des Aulnaies, the Métabetchouane, and the Ouiatchouane. The towns on its shores include Alma, Dolbeau-Mistassini, Roberval, Normandin, and Saint-Félicien. Three Regional County Municipalities lie on its shores: Lac-Saint-Jean-Est, Le Domaine-du-Roy, and Maria-Chapdelaine.

The lake was named Piekuakami by the Innu. It was given its French name after Jean de Quen, a Jesuit missionary who in 1647 was the first European to reach its shores.

Industry on the lake was dominated by the fur trade until the 19th century. Colonization began in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region in the early 19th century and continued intensively until the early 20th century. Industry was mainly forestry and agriculture. In the 20th century, pulp and paper mills and aluminum smelting rose to importance, encouraged by hydroelectric dams at Alma and on the Péribonka River. Lac Saint-Jean also has an important summer resort and sport-fishing industry.

The area is featured in the classic French language novel Maria Chapdelaine by Louis Hémon published in 1914 and subsequently translated into twenty languages.

In the 1940s, during World War II, Lac Saint-Jean, along with various other regions within Canada, such as the Saguenay, Saint Helen's Island and Hull, Quebec, had Prisoner-of-war camps.[3] Lac Saint-Jean's was numbered and remained unnamed just like most of Canada's other war prisons.[3][4] The prisoners of war (POWs) were classified into categories including their nationality and civilian or military status.[3] By 1942 this region had two camps with at least 50 POWs. Prisoners worked the land, including lumbering and assisting in the production of pulp and paper.[3]

Notable people

  • Birthplace of NHL Hall of Famer and Team Canada 1972 member Jean Ratelle.
  • Birthplace of McGill Professor Mario Chevrette, Ph.D of Molecular and Cell Biology.

See also

References

  1. ^ "LAC SAINT-JEAN (LAKE SAINT-JOHN)". ILEC-Logo International Lake Environment Committee. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  2. ^ Innu-aimun.ca: Piekuakami
  3. ^ a b c d Tremblay, Robert, Bibliothèque et Archives Canada, et all. "Histoires oubliées – Interprogrammes : Des prisonniers spéciaux" Interlude. Aired: 20 July 2008, 14h47 to 15h00.
  4. ^ Note: See also List of POW camps in Canada.