Lake Mistassini

Largest natural lake in Quebec, Canada

Lake Mistassini is the largest natural lake by surface area in the province of Quebec, Canada, with a total surface area of approximately and a net area (water surface area only) of It is located in the Jamésie region of the province, approximately east of James Bay. The Cree town of Mistissini is located on Watson Peninsula in the south east corner of the lake, which separates Baie du Poste from Abatagouche Bay. Extensive forests of spruce, birch, pine, and fir trees, which support a booming forestry industry, surround the lake. Significant tributaries flowing into the lake include: Chalifour, Pépeshquasati, Takwa, Témiscamie, and Wabissinane. Other nearby lakes include Lake Albanel and Lake Troilus.

The name Mistassini came from the Cree or Montagnais , and means "large rock"; it probably refers a large glacial erratic stone, about high, located near the outlet of Lake Mistassini into the Rupert River. Over the centuries, it went through many name changes and different spellings. In 1664, on a map by Ducreux, this lake was known as Outakgami. On maps by Jolliet (1684), Jaillot (1685) and Franquelin (1688), the lake was identified as Timagaming. In 1703, the cartographer Guillaume Delisle used the same name, along with the name Mistasin. Laure (1731) and Bellin (1744) showed on their maps the name Lake Mistassins. Other spelling variations of this First Nations designation included: Mistacinnee, Mistacsinney, Mistasinne, Mistasinia, etc.

The existence of this large lake was known to French explorers prior to its official discovery; Samuel de Champlain knew of it in 1603. It was finally discovered by Europeans in 1663 as part of an expedition ordered by Governor D'Avaugour and led by Guillaume Couture (first settler of Pointe Lévy (Lévis) and hero of New France). Their traditional hunting grounds, an area northeast of Lake Mistassini, were near the headwaters of the Eastmain River and just south of Noakokan. Lake Indicator is near their southern boundary. Rogers observed that Lake Indicator was used as an early winter base for hunting and trapping. He noted the remains of an earth covered conical lodge, four house pits, and a log cabin. Rogers noted that the Mistassini First Nations left their summer encampments in late August or early September at the lower end of Lake Mistassini and moved to their hunting grounds, where the men built a fall camp. From October through December they lived in early winter camps which were more substantial. This was where they cached their canoes. During the hardest part of the winter, they moved to different hunting camps. In April, they moved back to the early winter camp, and by the end of May they returned to their summer camp at the south end of Lake Mistassini. The earth covered conical lodge, three house pits, and the remains of a log cabin were near the Matoush early winter camp (1953 1954), about mid way on the west shore of Lake Indicator. The earth covered conical lodge was used by Matoush's parents, his siblings, and his own family c. 1915 1920 as an early winter camp from October to January. The known distribution of earth covered conical lodges in the eastern Subarctic extends from the east coast of James Bay at the Eastman River post, the lower Rupert River, and Fort George.

The eastern sector of Mistassini Lake (including the village of Mistissini (Cree village municipality) and the hamlet Rivière Chalifour) is accessible from Chibougamau by the route 167. This road goes north to the east shore of Albanel Lake. Some secondary forest roads connect to this main road.