Impact Crater Lake

Manicouagan Reservoir, nicknamed the "Eye of Quebec" for its striking circular shape, is a testament to a cosmic encounter 214 million years ago. A 5-kilometer wide meteorite slammed into Earth during the Late Triassic period, leaving behind a massive impact crater. Today, this crater is filled with water, forming the 1,942 square kilometer Manicouagan Reservoir. In its center lies René-Levasseur Island, crowned by the majestic Mount Babel, which is believed to be the central peak pushed up by the impact itself.

This is not just a beautiful lake on a winter’s day though; it's also a powerhouse. The Daniel-Johnson dam, a multiple-arch buttress dam, harnesses the water's energy for hydroelectric power.

So, the next time you look up at the night sky, remember that the serene beauty of the Manicouagan Reservoir is a constant reminder of where space and Earth meet, and how that cosmic encounter can shape our planet in incredible ways.

If we tell you that the swath width of Sentinel-2 satellites is 290 km, can you figure out the diagonal of the lake? The swath width is the area that a satellite can image per overflight.

Source: Modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2023) / Google Earth Engine