Capichigamau Lake

Lake Capichigamau is a freshwater body of the southern part of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay (municipality), in the region of Nord-du-Québec, in the province of Quebec, Canada. This lake is part of the Assinica Wildlife Sanctuary. This lake is part of the canton of Bellerive.

Capichigamau Lake
Watershed of Nottaway River
Capichigamau Lake
LocationEeyou Istchee James Bay Regional Government
Coordinates50°22′18″N 75°34′22″W
TypeNatural
Primary inflowsMountains creek and outlet of lakes
Primary outflowsOutlet of lake Capichigamau
Basin countriesCanada
Max. length21.1 kilometres (13.1 mi)
Max. width2.0 kilometres (1.2 mi)
Surface elevation356 metres (1,168 ft)

Forestry is the main economic activity of the sector. Recreational tourism activities come second.

The hydrographic slope of lake Capichigamau is accessible by a forest road (North-South direction) passing to the west of La Trève Lake and joining towards the South route 113 (linking Lebel-sur-Quévillon to Chibougamau).

The surface of Capichigamau Lake is usually frozen from early November to mid-May, however, safe ice circulation is generally from mid-November to mid-April.

Geography
This lake has a length of 21.1 kilometres (13.1 mi), a maximum width of 2.0 kilometres (1.2 mi) and an altitude of 356 metres (1,168 ft). The southwestern portion of the lake is particularly embedded in mountains with a peak reaching the west side. The northern part of the lake is surrounded by some marsh areas.

Lake Capichigamau obtains supplies from the south on two small mountain lakes, on the east side by the discharge of two unidentified lakes, on the west side by the discharge of two unidentified lakes and on the north side by the dump an unidentified lake.

The Lake Capichigamau outlet is located in the north and flows northward across the marsh zone to the mouth of Boissy Lake (elevation: 319 metres (1,047 ft)), which is crossed to the southwest by the Assinica River. The mouth of Lake Capichigamau is located at the bottom from a bay to:

  • 12.4 kilometres (7.7 mi) at South of the mouth of the outlet of lake Capichigamau confluence with the Assinica River);
  • 31.3 kilometres (19.4 mi) south-east of the mouth of the Assinica River (confluence with the Broadback River);
  • 138.9 kilometres (86.3 mi) southeast of the mouth of Evans Lake;
  • 279 kilometres (173 mi) east of the mouth of the Broadback River (confluence with Rupert Bay);
  • 77.5 kilometres (48.2 mi) north-west of downtown Chibougamau;
  • 187 kilometres (116 mi) north-east of downtown Matagami.[1]

The main hydrographic slopes adjacent to Surprise Lake are:

Toponymy

Of Cree origin, the term "Capichigamau" means "long lake". This name appears for the first time in 1951 on a map of the province of Quebec.[2]

The toponym "Lac Capichigamau" was formalized on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec when it was created.[3]

Notes and references
  1. Distances from the Department of Natural Resources Canada's Atlas of Canada (published on the Internet).
  2. Source: Names and places of Quebec, work of the Commission de toponymie published in 1994 and 1996 in the form of a printed illustrated dictionary, and under that of a CD-ROM produced by the company Micro-Intel, in 1997, from this dictionary.
  3. Quebec Geographic Names Board - Place Name Database - Toponym: "Lac Capichigamau"

See also
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