Lake Mistassini

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lake Mistassini, Canada
Coordinates	50°5′N 73°2′W
Lake type	Oligotrophic
Primary sources	Wabissinane River
Primary outflows	Rupert River
Catchment area	1,813 km²
Basin countries	Canada
Max-length	161 km
Max-width	19 km
Surface area	2,335 km²
Max-depth	183 m
Water volume	150 km³
Surface elevation	372 m
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]. It is located in the Jamésie region of the province, approximately 360 km east of James Bay^[2]. The Cree town of Mistissini is located on Watson Peninsula in the south-east corner of the lake.

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^[3].

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.