Here you are on the Piopolis wharf, which overlooks the magnificent Lac Mégantic. The quay and its marina are one of the busiest places in the village. In summer, the children jump into the water, the older ones relax on the benches and visitors come from everywhere.
It is probably because of that calming view of Maine's Blue Mountains straddling the border line. The mountains that surround the lake and the lake itself were formed by the passage of glaciers a long time ago.
The lake occupies an area of 27.4 square km and is 73 meters deep. Its length is 16 km and at the other end, we find the town of Lac-Mégantic.
Its large size, location and excellent water quality make it a lake teeming with fish: brown trout, lake trout, landlocked salmon, yellow perch, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass and even pike.
It is to this particularity that Lac Mégantic owes its name. It comes from the Abenaki Namesokanjik, which means “place where fish abounds”.
At the beginning of the century, there was commercial fishing and the fish were sold as far as Boston. Even today, the lake is a popular place for ice fishing in winter.
In summer, in addition to fishing, the lake attracts vacationers for all sorts of reasons. Boaters from the region come to enjoy the marina. They moor their boat at the visitor quays for the time to get a pizza from the canteen or to spend some good time on the terrace of the local restaurant.
Kayaking, paddleboarding and water sports enthusiasts meet there, with the possibility of renting equipment on site.
The Piopolis Marina is also a natural resting point for cyclists going around the lake, a very popular cycling route in the region. With its 60 kilometers long and its 600 meters of elevation gain, this route quickly becomes a little challenge, while remaining accessible for most.
In addition to all these activities, the lake remains above all a place of contemplation, with its rich fauna and flora and its soothing environment.
Moreover, this bay where you are now, Piopolis Bay, was once called Moose Bay, because if you were lucky, you could sometimes see a moose there.