 | ||
The Taureau Lake Regional Park was built around Taureau Lake (said Bull Lake, in English), located in part (south half) in the municipality of Saint-Michel-des-Saints, in the MRC of Matawinie, in the administrative region of Lanaudière, in province of Quebec in Canada. The North-East of the regional park falls within the unorganized territory Baie-de-la-Bouteille and the northern part of the unorganized territory of Lac-Matawin in the MRC Matawinie.
Contents
By the mid-19th Century, this sector has grown mainly through agriculture and forestry. Intensive logging generated logs which were deposited on the ice during winter. Driftwood down the Matawin River to the Saint-Maurice River, to feed the pulp and paper mills downstream, such as those of Grand-Mère Shawinigan and Trois-Rivières. From 20th Century, recreation and tourism is a major economic boost for the region.
GeographyEdit
This regional park is backed by the west end of La Mauricie National Park. The southwest entrance to the Taureau Lake Regional Park is located in 155 kilometres (96 mi) north of Montreal Olympic Park. The large reservoir of Lake Taurus covers 95 square kilometres (37 sq mi). This large lake has 31.7 kilometres (19.7 mi) of banks including many sandy beaches, including the beach of Pointe-fine located at the end of a peninsula jutting off the center of the lake. The sandy shores of "Baie du Milieu" (bays of the Middle), and "Baie des embranchements" (baie of Splitter) and "Baie du Poste" attract fans of camping and swimming in a wildness.
The Matawin River flows into "Lac Taureau" by the west side, and jump back to the lake outlet (the East side), controlled by the "Matawin barrier" erected at the bottom of the "Baie du barrage" (Bay of the dam) at an altitude of 356.58 metres (1,169.9 ft). (1183 feet).
Taureau Lake has 45 islands, the most important are:
Taureau Lake has three main parts (each adopting the north-south axis) connected by a narrow passage. Each part has several large bays :
Recreation and tourism activitiesEdit
Well known by people who love nature and tourist activities, this beautiful lake is surrounded by mountains. The regional park is popular for resorts, water sports (including swimming and boating), camping and hiking in the forest. Visitors enjoy the areas septic draining site and safe landing sites that are also developed. The park has several rustic campsites, including the "baie du milieu" (bay of the middle) and "baie du poste" (bay of the post).
Landscaped in the area of Dominique Bay trails offer exceptional views of the Taureau Lake. With a total length of 4.6 kilometres (2.9 mi), the trail also offers the opportunity to complete a loop of 3.1 kilometres (1.9 mi). Several other trails are managed by private companies, including the pedestrian network of "Auberge du Lac Taureau", located on the western shore of the lake at the end of the peninsula separating the bays "du milieu" (of the middle) (at the North-West) and "bay of the Village" (South-East). The village of Saint-Michel-des-Saints is located on the south side of that bay.
Several outfitters offer kayak tours or other types of boats to visit the wildest corners, out of the ordinary. In the "baie du milieu" (middle bay), the team Nerrivik Adventures, Adventure Ecotourism Quebec member, provides kayak rental, guided tours and kayak expeditions. Some providers offer discovery tours by sea kayak to explore the hidden corners of Taureau Lake.
The "Chambre de commerce" (Chamber of Commerce) of Upper Matawinie at 450 833-1334 or www.haute-matawinie.com promotes this great country.