Geomorphology, the marriage of geology and erosion
The topography of the territory is very representative of the Canadian Shield with its round-topped mountains, vast plateaus and marshy plains. In fact, these old volcanic chains formed of crystalline rock have long suffered the impact of erosion since they are aged of almost half the age of the Earth, approximately 2.8 billion years. First formed by the underwater volcanoes in a tropical environment, the ocean floor later submerged, by plate tectonics to form the northern part of the Canadian Shield. As proof, lava pillows and volcanic breccias are still visible north of Lake Opemiska. Their formation is explained by the rapid cooling of underwater molten lava.
Pillow lava, Lake Opemiska
Rémy Morin - Volcanism Quebec |
Volcanic breccias, Sector of Chapais
Rémy Morin - Volcanism Quebec |
During this time, volcanism was still erupting underground. The lava that did not reach the surface was stuck in fissures and close spaces underground. One of the forms is similar to the head of a mushroom and is called "plutonic". Under the actual Lake Opemiska, we find the Opemiska pluton which explains in part why the lake is shallow south of Grosse Ile.
Then, this enormous piece of earth came in contact with another continent to form the south side of the present Canadian Shield. During this impact called "orogenesis", the earth rose up to create, amongst others, the mounts Temiscamie and Otish. This demarcation, defining the Front Grenville, serves as a drainage divide between the basins slopes of the James Bay and the St-Lawrence River. It is visible in the Chibougamau Park around kilometre 188 when we pass from green rocks to pink rocks. This limit is also used to delimit the areas of Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean and the James Bay area. At the moment of impact, fractures in the rock were formed in order to release the underground pressure. These great faults, which create parallel depressions in the direction of the north-east / southwest impact, are at the origin of the majority of the lakes of the territory, of which are Lakes Opemiska, Mistissini and Chibougamau.
As well, the actual forms of water surfaces was completed by the glacier erosion which facilitated the abrasion of cavities in a south-western direction and created till ballasting (material not sorted left in place by the glacier) on the summits. Many typical forms can be observed in the area following the passage and melting of glaciers such as eskers, clay deposits or beautiful golden beaches of fine sand.
Northern Quebec
Northern Quebec covers 840 000 km2, 55% of the area of Quebec. It is divided into two sections: the Nunavut in the north and James Bay in the south. The Nunavut is inhabited by less than 10,000 persons. It is composed at 95% of Inuits and 5% of non-natives and Crees. This area is original because of its villages, peppered along the coast and the absence of access roads, causing travel to be at the mercy of aerial and maritime transportation. There is but one exception in this territory, the village of Kawawachikamach which is inland, at the limit between Labrador and Quebec. This small village is composed of natives of the Naskapi tribe.
The management of the Nunavut is the responsibility of the Kativik Regional Administration which acts in the same manner as a county regional municipality with a municipal management in the communities. Due to this, the negotiations with the federal and provincial governments are underway to implement an autonomous government for the Nunavut.
James Bay
The James Bay area is situated between:
The 49th parallel in the south
The 55th parallel in the north
Ontario and James Bay in the west
The drainage divide from the 70th meridian in the east
James Bay is composed of:
4 towns: Chapais, Chibougamau, Lebel-sur-Quévillon and Matagami
4 localities: Radisson, Villebois, Valcanton, Desmaraisville and Miquelon
8 native communities: Ouje-Bougoumou, Mistissini, Waswanipi, Nemaska, Waskaganish, Eastmain, Wemindji and Chisasibi
La surface of the territory represents 350,000 km2, 20% of the surface of all Québec (equivalent to 1 time Germany and 2/3 of France). The territory is shared between lands of Categories 1, 2 and 3 for the native communities, the municipal limits, and the faunic reserve of Lakes Albanel, Waconichi and Mistissini as well as the James Bay Municipality which covers, in itself, the great majority of the territory.
The area is inhabited by approximately 16,000 non-natives and more than 13,000 natives. Thus, the face of the James Bay population is constantly changing since the Cree population increases at a rhythm that it doubles every 7 years.
It is possible to access the area through Route 117 in Abitibi-Temiscamingue then by the 109, 111 and 113 direction Northern Quebec. A loop may be performed through the Saguenay-Lake-St-Jean area via route 167. Thus, by this access through the 167, the area of Chapais is situated at 550 km of the town of Quebec and at 700 km from Montreal. In addition, it is possible to access the area through the airways since daily departures leave the Chapais-Chibougamau Airport towards Roberval, Montreal and the Nordic native villages. Once in the area, the James Bay Road is paved and well-known as it permits the access from Matagami to the locality of Radisson, where it is possible to visit the hydroelectric dams. To access the James Bay Road from Chibougamau, it is shortest to take the Route du Nord which is gravelled and maintained throughout the year. Finally, the Route Transtaïga, also gravelled, gives access inside the area along the successive dams of Hydro-Québec north of the James Bay Road.
The James Bay area is recognized for its many water surfaces. In fact, the largest soft-water lake in Quebec is situated on this territory; Lake Mistassini. This area possesses the greatest population of trophy brook trout in the world because of a perfect food chain and extremely productive spawn areas.
Lake Opemiska
This water surface stretches over 18 km in length and an average width of 3,3 km. Its very irregular contours total a perimeter of 148 km to give a total surface area of approximately 77 km2. This lake constitutes in fact a widening of the Chibougamau River, which flows into the Rivers Waswanipi and Nottaway. Its surface includes many great bays, islands and peninsulas.
The name Opemisca designates also a mountain situated to the north of the lake. Mount-Opemisca of an altitude of 540 metres (approximately 1780 feet) is seen from the beach of the camping and is better known as the "Mountain of the Mummy" and even "Pregnant Woman" because of its typical form.
The name Opemisca, was also written Opemiska, according to the authors and is a Cree name meaning difficult to paddle. In Montagnais, the word Opemisca also spelled Opamiska means it is a little high. However, in Algonquin, the word Pamiska alludes to an area where the lake embankments are peppered with aquatic herbs. The sectors next to the lake are, in fact, very swampy.
The proximity of Chapais, at a dozen kilometres, renders this water surface popular for its outdoor and camping activities. Along the west bay, there are many cottages and a camping area with a beach which reminds us of why this lake was known in the past as Lake with a sandy bank, a variant without a doubt inspired by the relation made by Henry O'Sullivan in 1901 of his expedition in the area. The explorer proposes in fact the translation of Sandy Beach Lake for the lake which he presents under the name of Lake Opamiska.
Source: Names and areas of Québec: illustrated dictionary, Toponymy Commission, Publication du Québec, Ste-Foy, 1994, 925p.
Lake Presqu'île would be of extra-terrestrial origin
We know the meteorite from Charlevoix, Manicouagan and more recently the crater of New-Quebec but the Lake de la Presqu'île, where the town of Chapais gathers its potable water, is also part of the 7 meteorite collisions recorded in Quebec by the Canadian Geological Commission.
The Lake de la Presqu'île, studied during the last decade, is spectacular since scientists have discovered in several areas some metamorphic rocks characteristic of meteoritic formation, named shock cones. In fact, the circumstantial proof shows that, approximately 750 million years ago, a meteorite hit Earth in this area. Today, the crater which spans about 20 km in diameter would have suffered up to 3000 metres of vertical erosion. This makes it difficult to identify nowadays. The circular form of the Lake de la Presqu'île reinforces, however, the thesis of a meteorite collision.
Énergie mines et ressources 32G/10
Interesting sites on the subject:
http://gdcinfo.agg.nrcan.gc.ca/crater/world_craters_f.html
http://wwwdsa.uqac.uquebec.ca/~mhiggins/MIAC/MIAC.html