Goéland Lake

The surface of "Lac au Goéland" extends into the cantons of Meulande, Dussieux, Bourbaux and Nignal.

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

The hydrographic slope of "Lac au Goéland" is accessible via the James Bay road from the southwest (Matagami), then branches northwards by cutting the Canet River, located at Northwest of Goéland Lake. Forest roads serve the southern part of the lake.

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

Geography

This lake has a length of 36 kilometres (22 mi), a maximum width of 18 kilometres (11 mi) and an altitude of 263 metres (863 ft). "Goéland Lake" is part of a large watershed with lakes Maicasagi (Northeast), Waswanipi (Southeast) and Olga (West).

Goéland Lake has several peninsulas and 31 islands. The main bays are Ramsay Bay in the southwest and Lawrence Bay in the west. The Waswanipi River (tributary of Matagami Lake) flows northwest to Goéland Lake. The Max Passage is the length of 10.5 kilometres (6.5 mi) and connects the Lake Maicasagi, located to the Northeast. This last lake is in turn fed by the Chensagi River (coming from the North).

The mouth of "Lac au Goéland" is located at the bottom of a bay Northwest of the lake at:

• 20.1 kilometres (12.5 mi) East of the mouth of Olga Lake (at the mouth of the Waswanipi River);
• 15.7 kilometres (9.8 mi) Southwest of the mouth of Maicasagi Lake;
• 52.1 kilometres (32.4 mi) Northeast of the village center of Matagami;
• 48.1 kilometres (29.9 mi) East of the mouth of Matagami Lake.

The main hydrographic slopes near Lake Goéland are:

• North side: Chensagi River, Lake Maicasagi;
• East side: Waswanipi River, Waswanipi Lake;
• South side: Iserhoff River, Iserhoff North River, Imbault Creek;
• West side: Matagami Lake, Olga Lake (Waswanipi River), Opaoca River.