Muscocho Lake

The Muscocho Lake is a body of water crossed by the Obatogamau River in the territory of Eeyou Istchee James Bay (municipality), in the administrative area of Nord-du-Québec, in the province of Quebec, in Canada. This lake extends in the cantons of Fancamp and Haüy.

Muscocho Lake
Watershed of Broadback River
Muscocho Lake
LocationEeyou Istchee James Bay Regional Government
Coordinates49°39′46″N 74°34′03″W
TypeNatural
Primary inflows
Primary outflowsObatogamau River
Basin countriesCanada
Max. length10.3 kilometres (6.4 mi)
Max. width1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi)
Surface elevation365 metres (1,198 ft)

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

The hydrographic slope of Muscocho Lake is accessible via the R1040 forest road (going North-South) to the east of the lake and connecting to the north at route 113 (linking Lebel-sur-Quévillon and Chibougamau) and the Canadian National Railway. Haüy Township is located north of the lake.

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

Geography
Lake Muscocho has a length of 10.3 kilometres (6.4 mi), a maximum width of 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi) and an altitude of 365 metres (1,198 ft), the same altitude as the reservoir area of Obatogamau Lakes located upstream to the southeast.

Lake Muscocho has an angled shape (open to the southwest) due to a peninsula advancing north-east on 5.0 kilometres (3.1 mi). This lake has 31 islands, the largest of which has a length of 1.1 kilometres (0.68 mi).

Muscocho Lake is an extension of the Obatogamau River (tributary of the Chibougamau River). This lake receives its waters on the south side in the canton of Fancamp. Upstream, the Obatogamau Lakes include, in particular, Lac Verneuil, Le Royer, La Dauversière, Holmes and Chevrier Lake (Obatogamau River).

The mouth of Lake Muscocho is located at the end of a short strait crossed by an island (length: 0.5 km) separating it from Keith Lake. This mouth is located at:

The main hydrographic slopes near Lake Muscocho are:

Toponymy

The oldest mention of this hydronym on maps dates back to 1927. Of Cree origin, its meaning is similar to herbs. The term "Muscocho" could come from "maskusiy", a generic term for any kind of grass or hay. According to Father Louis-Philippe Vaillancourt, miskoskou, in Cree, has for sense there is a lot of grass.[2]

The toponym "Lake Muscocho" 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 from the Atlas of Canada (published on the Internet) from the Department of Natural Resources Canada.
  2. [Source: Names and places of Quebec, work of the Commission de toponymie published in 1994 and 1996 in the form of a printed illustrated dictionary, and under that of a CD-ROM produced by the company Micro-Intel, in 1997, from this dictionary.]
  3. Commission de toponymie du Québec - List of place names - Toponym: "Lake Muscocho"

See also
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