Lake Macamic

Lake Macamic
Macamic village, seen from the lake
Lake Macamic is located in Quebec
Lake Macamic
Lake Macamic
LocationAbitibi
Coordinates48°47′56″N 78°57′55″W / 48.79889°N 78.96528°W / 48.79889; -78.96528
Lake typeNatural
Primary inflowsLoïs River, Macamic River, Bellefeuille River (lake Macamic), Royal-Roussillon creek.
Primary outflowsLa Sarre River
Basin countriesCanada
Max. length9.8 km (9,800 m)
Max. width9.7 km (9,700 m)
Surface elevation278 m (912 ft)
Islands"À l'Épine", "À Fortin", "À Babineau", "À Croteau"

Macamic Lake is a freshwater body of the municipalities of Macamic, Authier-Nord and Chazel in the Regional County Municipality (MRC) of Abitibi-Ouest, in the administrative region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, in Quebec, in Canada.

Lake Macamic is surrounded by a mainly agricultural area. The surface of this body of water is generally frozen from mid-November to the end of April; however, the period of safe ice traffic is usually from mid-December to the end of March.

The arrival of the Transcontinental Railway to Macamic in 1916 (passing south of Macamic Lake) and La Sarre, Quebec in 1917 contributed greatly to the colonization of this area. Pioneers of lots awarded in the area usually arrived by train from the Mauricie or the Capitale-Nationale region. For example, the pioneers were getting off the train at Macamic, south of Macamic Lake, with their livestock, settlements and provisions. Then, they used boats to cross Macamic Lake and take the La Sarre River to their respective lot in the area of Chazel. These pioneers were generally supplied by the train by their extended family who lived in Mauricie.