Chibougamau

Chibougamau
Chibougamau main street
Chibougamau main street
Flag of Chibougamau
Coat of arms of Chibougamau
Chibougamau is located in Quebec
Chibougamau
Chibougamau
Location in Quebec
Chibougamau is located in Canada
Chibougamau
Chibougamau
Chibougamau (Canada)
Coordinates (650, 3e Rue[2]): 49°54′48″N 74°22′07″W / 49.91333°N 74.36861°W / 49.91333; -74.36861[1][3]
CountryCanada
ProvinceQuebec
RegionNord-du-Québec
RCMNone
Settled1952
ConstitutedNovember 8, 1952
Government
 • MayorManon Cyr
 • Federal ridingAbitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou
 • Prov. ridingUngava
Area
 (2021)[2][4]
 • Total1,039.89 km2 (401.50 sq mi)
 • Land698.13 km2 (269.55 sq mi)
 • Water341.76 km2 (131.95 sq mi)
 • Population centre6.0 km2 (2.3 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[4]
 • Total7,233
 • Density10.4/km2 (27/sq mi)
 • Population centre
6,491
 • Population centre density1,081.2/km2 (2,800/sq mi)
 • Change (2016–21)
Decrease3.6%
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (EDT)
Postal code(s)
Area code(s)418 and 581
ClimateDfc
Websitewww.ville.chibougamau.qc.ca

Chibougamau (French pronunciation: [ʃibuɡamo]) is the largest town in Nord-du-Québec, central Quebec, Canada. Located on Lake Gilman, it has a population of 7,233 people (2021 Canadian census).[4] Chibougamau is surrounded by, but not part of, the local municipality of Eeyou Istchee James Bay.

Its remoteness from Lac Saint-Jean (over 200 km (120 mi) south-east) and Abitibi-Témiscamingue (over 250 km (160 mi) south-west) areas causes Chibougamau to provide services for a few smaller communities surrounding it (Mistissini, Oujé-Bougoumou, and Chapais) and for the regional resource-based industries. Despite Chibougamau's remoteness, it is only about as far north as Winnipeg and is south of any part of the mainland of England.

Nearby is Lac Aux Dorés, which is fed by the Chibougamau River from the larger Chibougamau Lake after which the town was named. Chibougamau means "gathering place" in the Cree language. The neighbouring Cree village of Oujé-Bougoumou has the same name with a more traditional Cree spelling.

The area surrounding Lake Gilman is Obalski Regional Park. Its many amenities include a beach, pier, picnic tables, and cabins. The many trails allow for hiking, cycling, cross-country skiing, or even snowmobiling through the park's boreal forest.

Access to the town is by Route 167 from Lac Saint-Jean and by Route 113 from Lebel-sur-Quévillon. Chibougamau/Chapais Airport is along Route 113, about halfway to Chapais.

  1. ^ "Chibougamau". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada.
  2. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference mamrot was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference toponymie was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference StatCAN2021CU was invoked but never defined (see the help page).