Caupichigau Lake Explained

Caupichigau Lake
Location:	Baie-James
Type:	Natural
Inflow:	Naomi creek
Outflow:	Caupichigau River
Pushpin Map:	Quebec
Basin Countries:	Canada

Caupichigau Lake is a freshwater body of the southern part of Eeyou Istchee James Bay (municipality), in the administrative region of Nord-du-Québec, in the province of Quebec, in Canada.

The surface of the lake is largely in the townships of Berey and Daine. Forestry is the main economic activity of the sector. Recreational tourism activities come second.

The hydrographic slope of Lake Caupichigau is accessible through the road 113 which link Lebel-sur-Quevillon to Chibougamau. The surface of Lake Caupichigau is usually frozen from early November to mid-May, however, safe ice circulation is generally from mid-November to mid-April.

Geography

This lake formed in length has a length of, a maximum width of and an altitude of . It is fed to the Northeast by the outlet of Lake Ruth.

The mouth of Lake Caupichigau is located at the bottom of a bay on the north-west side, at:

• Northeast of the mouth of the Caupichigau River;
• Northeast of the mouth of the La Trêve River (confluence with the Maicasagi River);
• Northeast of the mouth of the Maicasagi River (confluence with Maicasagi Lake);
• Northeast of the mouth of Goéland Lake (Waswanipi River);
• Northeast of the mouth of Olga Lake (Waswanipi River);
• Northeast of the village center of Waswanipi;
• Northeast of downtown Matagami;
• Northeast of the mouth of Matagami Lake.^[1]

The main hydrographic slopes near Lake Caupichigau are:

• North side: Omo River (Quebec), Omo Lake, Caupichigam Lake;
• East side: Mildred River, Brock River (Chibougamau River), Chibougamau River;
• South side: Chibougamau River, La Trêve River, La Trêve Lake;
• West side: La Trêve River, Maicasagi River.

The main hydrographic slopes near Lake Caupichigau are:

• North side: Omo River (Quebec), Omo Lake, Caupichigam Lake;
• East side: Mildred River, Brock River (Chibougamau River), Chibougamau River;
• South side: Chibougamau River, La Trêve River, La Trêve Lake;
• West side: La Trêve River, Maicasagi River.

Toponymy

This hydronym is indicated on the sheet of the topographic series Mistassini, in 1945.^[2]

The toponym "Lac Caupichigau" 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 Atlas of Canada (published on the Internet) of the Department of Natural Resources Canada.
2. Source: Names and places of Québec, a work of the Commission de toponymie du Québec, published in 1994 and 1996 in the form of a printed illustrated dictionary, and under that of a CD-ROM made by the company Micro-Intel, in 1997, from this dictionary.
3. Web site: Commission de toponymie du Québec - List of place names - Toponym: "Lac Caupichigau" . toponymie.gouv.qc.ca. 2017-12-10.