Cabonga Reservoir

The Cabonga Reservoir (French: Réservoir Cabonga) is a man-made lake in central Quebec, Canada, with a total surface area of 677 square kilometres (261 sq mi) and a net area (water only) of 484 square kilometres (187 sq mi).[2] It is located on the boundary between the unorganized territories of Lac-Pythonga and Réservoir-Dozois, and fully within the La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve. The First Nations reserve of Rapide Lake is on its western shores.

Cabonga Reservoir
Cabonga Reservoir is located in Quebec
Cabonga Reservoir
Cabonga Reservoir
LocationLac-Pythonga and Réservoir-Dozois, La Vallée-de-l'Or Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Coordinates47°19′57″N 76°34′37″W
TypeArtificial
Primary inflowsCabonga River
Primary outflowsGens de Terre River
Ottawa River
Basin countriesCanada
Surface area677 km2 (261 sq mi)[1]
Shore length14,500 km (2,800 mi)
Surface elevation361 m (1,184 ft)[1]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Its name is derived from the Algonquin kakibonga and means "completely blocked by sand."[3]

The reservoir has two outlets: the Gens de Terre River flowing to the south-east which is a tributary of the Baskatong Reservoir and Gatineau River; and an outflow to the north-west flowing directly into Barrière Lake which is part of the Ottawa River system. Both outflows are controlled by dams to regulate the flow on the respective rivers.[3]

Many fishing magazines and websites consider Cabonga Reservoir one of North America's top 20 walleye and northern pike waters.[4] Also, Outdoor Canada magazine includes it among its "simply the best" hot spots for lake trout fishing.[5]

History

Before its impoundment, Lake Cabonga was considered the largest body of water between the Gatineau and Ottawa Rivers. In 1851, the Hudson's Bay Company established a trading post at this lake (named Kakabonga at that time). The post burned down in 1873, and was not rebuilt but replaced by a new post on Barrière Lake. In 1928-1929, a dam at the outlet of the lake, the Gens de Terre River, was constructed to create a water reserve for logging companies to float their logs downstream. Some 37 natural lakes were thus combined and formed a single reservoir with an area of 404 square kilometres (156 sq mi), dotted with innumerable islands (some with considerable proportions) and deep bays.[3][4][6]

Surveyor H. C. Symmes, in a report dating from 1864, used "Kakibonga" to designate the lake. In 1911, one map named it "Lake Kakabonga". Finally in 1924, the Commission de Géographie approved its current name.[3]

Fauna

Fish species found in the lake are: lake trout, yellow walleye, northern pike, lake sturgeon, lake whitefish, sauger, white sucker, and yellow perch.

See also

References
  1. Statistics Canada > summary tables > Principal lakes, elevation and area, by provinces and territories Archived 2011-07-06 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Natural Resources Canada, Atlas of Canada - Lakes
  3. "Réservoir Cabonga" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2010-12-14.
  4. "Cabonga Reservoir". Deer Horn Lodge. Archived from the original on 2009-01-23. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
  5. "Hot Spots, Simply the Best". Outdoor Canada. Archived from the original on 2007-11-11. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  6. "Lac-Rapide (Réserve indienne)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2010-03-18.
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