Lake Minto

Lake Minto
Location Baie-d'Hudson, Kativik, Quebec
Coordinates 57°13′07″N 75°00′45″W / 57.21861°N 75.01250°WCoordinates: 57°13′07″N 75°00′45″W / 57.21861°N 75.01250°W
Type Oligotrophic
Primary inflows Charpentier River and other rivers
Primary outflows Leaf River
Basin countries Canada
Max. length 81 km (50 mi) [1]
Max. width 22 km (14 mi) [1]
Surface area 761 km2 (294 sq mi) [2]
Surface elevation 168 m (551 ft) [2]

Lake Minto (Inuktitut: Qasigialik, "where there are Spotted Seals") is a lake on western Ungava Peninsula, Nunavik, Quebec, Canada. It has a total surface area of 761 square kilometres (294 sq mi) and a net area of 703 square kilometres (271 sq mi).[3]

It was named by Canadian explorer and geologist Albert Peter Low in 1898 after Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto, who was Governor General of Canada at that time.[1]

It is only some 60 kilometres (37 mi) east of Hudson Bay in a valley between several rows of hills, but Lake Minto's outlet, the Leaf River, flows north-east for about 265 kilometres (165 mi) to Ungava Bay. As such, it is used by canoeists especially when crossing Ungava from west to east.[1][4][5]

It is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in northern Quebec.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Lac Minto" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Statistics Canada > summary tables > Principal lakes, elevation and area, by provinces and territories
  3. Natural Resources Canada, Atlas of Canada - Lakes
  4. http://www.bassioutdoors.com/NUCE.html Northern Ungava Canoe Expedition
  5. http://www.nrsweb.com/services/newsletter/2007/rtnStory_0207b.asp Crossing the Ungava