Lake Mistassini
| Lake Mistassini | |
|---|---|
| Location | Jamésie Territory, Quebec |
| Coordinates | 50°57′N 73°42′W / 50.950°N 73.700°W |
| Type | Oligotrophic |
| Primary inflows | various rivers |
| Primary outflows | Rupert River |
| Catchment area | 1,813 km² (700 mile²) |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 161 km (100 mile) |
| Max. width | 19 km (12 mile) |
| Surface area | 2,335 km² (902 mile²) |
| Max. depth | 183 m (600 ft) |
| Water volume | 150 km³ (36 mile³) |
| Surface elevation | 372 m (1,220 ft) |
| Islands | Pahipanouk Tchapahipane |
Lake Mistassini (in French: Lac Mistassini) is the largest natural lake by surface area in the province of Quebec, Canada, with a total surface area of approximately 2,335 km² [1] and a net area (water surface area only) of 2,164 km².[2] It is located in the Jamésie region of the province, approximately 360 km east of James Bay [3]. The Cree town of Mistissini is located on Watson Peninsula in the south-east corner of the lake, which separates Baie du Poste from Abatagouche Bay.
Extensive forests of Spruce, Birch, Pine, and Fir trees, which support a booming forestry industry, surround the lake. The region is also noted to be one of Canada's largest agricultural producers of blueberries[4].
At the outflow into the Rupert River stands a large 3 m boulder which the native Cree used to name the lake, mista-assini which directly translated means "large stone".
Significant rivers flowing into the lake include:
- Chalifour
- Takwa
- Témiscamie
- Wabissinane
History
Lake Mistassini was discovered by Europeans in 1663 as part of an expedition ordered by Governor D'Avaugour and led by Guillaume Couture (first settler of Pointe-Lévy (Lévis) and hero of New-France). He was accompanied by Pierre Duquet and Jean Langlois, as well as by native American guides; the whole group consisting of a fleet of 44 canoes. They went up the Saguenay River, reached Lake Mistassini and continued on the Rupert River which flows to the Hudson Bay.
In 1672, Charles Albanel went to Lake Mistassini in an official mission. Afterwards a fur trading post was established on the lake, the location of which shifted from time to time until 1821 when it was established at the present site of the village Mistissini.