Opawica Lake
| Opawica Lake | |
|---|---|
Watershed of Nottaway River | |
| Location | Eeyou Istchee Baie-James (municipality) |
| Coordinates | 49°36′56″N 75°56′52″W / 49.61556°N 75.94778°W |
| Type | Lake of dam |
| Primary inflows |
|
| Primary outflows | Opawica River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 17.1 kilometres (10.6 mi) |
| Max. width | 7.3 kilometres (4.5 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 301 metres (988 ft) |
Opawica Lake is a freshwater body crossed by the Opawica River in the southern part of Eeyou Istchee James Bay (municipality), in Jamésie, in the administrative region of Nord-du-Québec, in the province of Quebec, in Canada. This lake extends into the townships of Boyvinet, Lesueur, Ghent and Esperance.
Forestry is the main economic activity of the sector. Recreational tourism activities come second with a navigable body of water 22.1 kilometres (13.7 mi) from one end to the other, skirting Opawica Island. This lake is formed by an enlargement of the Opawica River and includes a dam at its mouth.
The northern and western portions of the Lake Opawica watershed are accessible via the forest road route 113 linking Chibougamau to Lebel-sur-Quévillon. A forest road serving the southern, eastern and northern shores of Opawica and Wachigabau lakes connects via the north to route 113. The southern part is accessible through the Canadian National Railway which passes between these two lakes.
The surface of Opawica Lake is usually frozen from early November to mid-May, however, safe ice movement is generally from mid-November to mid-April.