Editing Lake Abitibi

{{short description|Lake on Ontario / Quebec border, Canada}}
{{otheruses|Abitibi (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Lake Abitibi
| image = Lake Abitibi 79.72W 48.75N.jpg
| caption = 
| pushpin_map = Ontario
| pushpin_map_caption=Location in Ontario and Quebec
| image_bathymetry = 
| caption_bathymetry = 
| location = [[Cochrane District, Ontario]] / [[Abitibi-Ouest Regional County Municipality, Quebec]]
| coords = {{Coord|48|40|N|79|45|W|type:waterbody_region:CA|display=inline,title}}
| lake_type = 
| inflow = Dagenais River, Duparquet River, La Reine River, La Sarre River, Low Bush River
| outflow = [[Abitibi River]]
| catchment = 
| basin_countries = Canada
| length = 
| width = 
| area = {{cvt|931|km2|sqmi}}
| depth = {{cvt|3.5|m|ft}}
| max-depth = {{cvt|15.0|m|ft}}
| volume = 
| residence_time = 
| shore = 
| elevation = {{cvt|265|m|ft}}
| islands = over 900
| cities = 
}}

'''Lake Abitibi''' ({{langx|fr|Lac Abitibi}}, {{langx|oj|Aabitibiiwi-zaaga’igan}}) is a shallow lake in northeastern [[Ontario]] and western [[Quebec]], Canada. The lake, which lies within the vast [[Clay Belt]], is separated in two distinct portions by a short narrows, making it actually two lakes. Its total area is {{Convert|931|km2}}, and net area {{Convert|903|km2}}.<ref>[http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/learningresources/facts/lakes.html Atlas of Canada] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070410230512/http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/learningresources/facts/lakes.html |date=2007-04-10 }}</ref> The lake is shallow and studded with islands. Its shores and vicinity are covered with small timber.

Its outlet is the [[Abitibi River]], a tributary of the [[Moose River (Ontario)|Moose River]], which empties into [[James Bay]]. The lake takes its name from the river. "Abitibi" comes from the [[Algonquin language|Algonquin]] words ''abitah'', meaning middle and ''nipi'' meaning water,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Dale H. |editor-last=Hoiberg |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |title=Abitibi River |edition=15th |year=2010 |publisher=[[Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.]] |volume=I: A-ak Bayes |location=Chicago, IL |isbn=978-1-59339-837-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newencyclopaedia2009ency/page/33 33] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/newencyclopaedia2009ency/page/33}}</ref> possibly a reference to its geographic location between the [[Harricana River|Harricana]] (from the Algonquin word ''Nanikana'', meaning "the main way")<ref>Environnement Québec, ''North Harricana River Aquatic Reserve''|http://www.mddep.gouv.qc.ca/biodiversite/aquatique/harricana-nord/note-en.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616022605/http://www.mddep.gouv.qc.ca/biodiversite/aquatique/harricana-nord/note-en.pdf |date=2011-06-16 }} Online version</ref> to the east and the [[Kapuskasing River|Kapuskasing]]&ndash;[[Mattagami River|Mattagami river]] system to the west.

Water levels on the lake are influenced by the Twin Falls Dam on the Abitibi River.

Portions of Lake Abitibi's southern shores and a section of the Abitibi River are part of the [[Abitibi-de-Troyes Provincial Park]]. The islands in Ontario's portion of the lake are protected in the Lake Abitibi Islands Provincial Park. The entire McDougall Point Peninsula, that separates the lake in two, is part of the {{Convert|6036|ha}} Mcdougal Point Peninsula Conservation Reserve.<ref>{{cite web |title=Crown Land Use Policy Atlas Policy Report C1714: Mcdougal Point Peninsula Conservation Reserve |url=https://www.gisapplication.lrc.gov.on.ca/services/CLUPA/xmlReader.aspx?xsl=web-primary.xsl&type=primary&POLICY_IDENT=C1714 |website=www.gisapplication.lrc.gov.on.ca |publisher=Ministry of Natural Resources |access-date=21 September 2021 |date=31 January 2006 |archive-date=21 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921193812/https://www.gisapplication.lrc.gov.on.ca/services/CLUPA/xmlReader.aspx?xsl=web-primary.xsl&type=primary&POLICY_IDENT=C1714 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Pointe Abitibi at the mouth of the Duparquet River is a [[National Historic Site of Canada]].<ref>{{Cite cgndb|EKVSL|Pointe Abitibi}}</ref> This {{Convert|272|ha}} site, known as Apitipik National Historic Site of Canada, was a summer gathering place for the [[Abitibiwinni First Nation|Abitibiwinnik]] until 1956 and the location of several [[trading post]]s between 1686 and 1922.<ref>{{cite web |title=Apitipik National Historic Site of Canada |url=https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=1797 |website=www.pc.gc.ca |publisher=Parks Canada |access-date=21 September 2021 |language=en |archive-date=22 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922003855/https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=1797 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==
Artifacts dating to the [[Late Archaic period]] have been found at Lake Abitibi.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Clément |editor-first=Daniel |last=Côté |first=Marc |year=1996 |title=The Algonquins |chapter=Prehistory of Abitibi-Témiscamingue |series=Mercury Series No. 130 |publisher=[[Canadian Museum of Civilization]] |issn=0316-1854 |isbn=0-660-15961-9}}</ref>

[[File:HBC Post Abitibi Lake 1910.jpg|thumb|left|[[Hudson's Bay Company]] post on Lake Abitibi, {{Circa|1910}}]]

Application of ''Abitibi'' to describe the lake and the [[Cree|people]] living in the area around it was first noted in [[The Jesuit Relations]] in 1640.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=Francis |first=Daniel |title=Lake Abitibi |url=https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/lake-abitibi |encyclopedia=The Canadian Encyclopedia|access-date=March 17, 2014|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085256/http://thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/lake-abitibi/|url-status=live}}</ref> One of the first Europeans in this area was [[Pierre de Troyes, Chevalier de Troyes|Pierre de Troyes]], who built a post on Lake Abitibi when he was on his way to [[Hudson Bay expedition (1686)|capture English HBC posts]] on James Bay in 1686.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.canadianencyclopedia.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0000013 |title=The Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=2007-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930180444/http://www.canadianencyclopedia.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0000013 |archive-date=2007-09-30 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Abitibi Post lay halfway between trading posts on James Bay and those on the [[Ottawa River]] and was in continuous existence throughout the French period.<ref name=Anick>{{cite journal |last1=Anick |first1=Norman |title=The Fur Trade in Eastern Canada Until 1870 |journal=Manuscript Report Number |date=1976 |volume=I |issue=207 |url=http://parkscanadahistory.com/series/mrs/207-1.pdf |access-date=13 September 2021 |publisher=National Historic Parks and Sites Branch, Parks Canada |archive-date=13 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913160537/http://parkscanadahistory.com/series/mrs/207-1.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The lake was part of the canoe route from James Bay to [[Montreal]], via the Moose and Abitibi Rivers, then a series of intermediate streams and [[portage]]s to [[Lake Temiskaming]] and the Ottawa River.<ref name=Anick/>

After the British conquered Canada in 1763, free traders either took over the French fort or built another post on the lake, providing strong trading competition to the main [[Hudson's Bay Company]] (HBC) fort at [[Moose Factory]] and the HBC outpost at [[Frederick House River#Frederick House|Frederick House]]. This moved the HBC to set up a post, called Abitibi House, on Lake Abitibi in 1794, located on the peninsula at the mouth of the Duparquet River. In subsequent decades this post, as well as competing posts of the [[North West Company]], were rebuilt or moved to various locations around the lake and its islands. Being unproductive due to competition, the HBC abandoned Abitibi House in 1811. When two companies merged in 1821, the HBC took over the trading post of the North West Company on Lake Abitibi.<ref name=Anick/><ref>[http://www.canadianheritage.ca/reproductions/20254.htm Lake Abitibi Post] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706170400/http://www.canadianheritage.ca/reproductions/20254.htm |date=2011-07-06 }} Canadian Heritage Gallery</ref>

The construction of the [[Grand Trunk Pacific Railway]] (now [[Canadian National Railway]]) through this district made it of some importance at the start of the 20th century.

==Lake Abitibi Islands==

{{Infobox protected area
|name            = Lake Abitibi Islands Provincial Park
|alt_name        = 
|iucn_category   = ia
|iucn_ref        = 
|photo           = 
|photo_width     = 
|photo_alt       = 
|photo_caption   = 
|location        = 
|coordinates     = {{Coord|48|45|43|N|79|55|22|W|region:CA-ON_type:landmark|display=inline}}
|coords_ref      = <ref>{{Cite cgndb|FIDRM|Lake Abitibi Islands Provincial Park}}</ref>
|area            = 
|area_ha         = 2721
|area_ref        = <ref name="OP">{{cite web |title=Lake Abitibi Islands |url=https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/lakeabitibiislands |website=www.ontarioparks.com |publisher=Ontario Parks |access-date=20 September 2021 |archive-date=21 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921175748/https://www.ontarioparks.com/park/lakeabitibiislands |url-status=live }}</ref>
|elevation       = 
|elevation_avg   = 
|elevation_min   = 
|elevation_max   = 
|dimensions      = 
|designation     = Nature reserve
|established     = 2005
|visitation_num  = 
|visitation_year = 
|visitation_ref  = 
|governing_body  = [[Ontario Parks]]
|website         = 
}}

The Lake Abitibi Islands Provincial Park protects nearly all the islands on the Ontario side of Lake Abitibi. It includes 786 islands, from tiny shoals to large islands of up to {{Convert|550|ha}}. Some of the larger islands are Deer, Dominion, and St. Patrick, as well as the Mistaken Islands<ref>{{Cite cgndb|FEBXQ|Mistaken Islands|access-date=21 September 2021}}</ref> (the largest island in the lake, Nepawa Island,<ref>{{Cite cgndb|EHJWG|Île Nepawa|access-date=21 September 2021}}</ref> is not part of the park since it is in [[Clerval, Quebec]]). The park was created in 2005 when the [[Abitibi-De-Troyes Provincial Park]] was reconfigured.<ref name="OP"/><ref name="mgmt">{{cite web |title=Lake Abitibi Islands Provincial Park Management Statement |url=https://www.ontario.ca/page/lake-abitibi-islands-provincial-park-management-statement |website=Ontario.ca |publisher=Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks |access-date=20 September 2021 |language=en |date=10 November 2015 |archive-date=21 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921181302/https://www.ontario.ca/page/lake-abitibi-islands-provincial-park-management-statement |url-status=live }}</ref>

The park is an important nesting habitat for many bird species, including great blue heron, bald eagle, osprey, and double-crested cormorant. The vegetation is characterized by intolerant hardwood and mixedwood forests, with black spruce, white spruce, and white birch as the common tree species.<ref name="OP"/>

It is a non-operating park, meaning that there are no facilities or services, and only accessible via air or water.<ref name="OP"/>

==See also==
*[[Pont de l'Île]] - covered bridge connecting Nepawa Island to the mainland
*[[Wahgoshig First Nation]]
*[[Blake River Megacaldera Complex]]
*[[List of lakes in Ontario]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
* {{EB1911 |wstitle=Abitibbi |volume=1}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.modelforest.net/cmfn/en/news_events/news_features/news_record.aspx?title_id=2113/ Canadian Model Forests Network]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Canada topic|List of lakes of}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lakes of Abitibi-Témiscamingue|Abitibi]]
[[Category:Lakes of Cochrane District|Abitibi]]
[[Category:Hudson's Bay Company trading posts|Abitibi]]
[[Category:Borders of Ontario]]
[[Category:Borders of Quebec]]