Наводнение в Сагене-Лак-Сен-Жан (1996)

1996 flash flood that hit Saguenay Lac Saint Jean region of Quebec, Canada

The Saguenay flood was a series of flash floods on July 19 and 20, 1996 that hit the Saguenay–Lac Saint Jean region of Quebec, Canada. It was the biggest overland flood in 20th century Canadian history.

Problems started after two weeks of constant rain, which severely engorged soils, rivers and reservoirs. The Saguenay region is a geological graben, which increased the effect of the sudden massive rains of July 19, 1996. In two days, rainfall accumulated that was "equivalent to the volume of water that tumbles over Niagara Falls in four weeks." Over 8 feet (2 m) of water flooded parts of Chicoutimi and La Baie, completely levelling an entire neighbourhood. Estimates reach in damages, a cost made greater by the disaster's occurrence at the height of the tourist season. Post flood enquiries discovered that the network of dikes and dams protecting the city of Chicoutimi was poorly maintained. In the end, 488 homes were destroyed, 1,230 damaged, 16,000 people evacuated, and 10 people died. An additional 2 people died in the mudslides produced by the incredible rain. An unexpected effect of the flood was to cover the heavily contaminated sediments at the bottom of the Saguenay and Ha! Ha! Rivers with of new, relatively clean sediments. Because of this, research has shown that the old sediments are no longer a threat to ecosystems and the river will not have to be dredged and treated to control contamination. The Ha! Ha! Pyramid was created to memorialise the flood.