All posts by clarahaskell

Rediscovering a Lost Lake

Otter Lake (Lac à la Loutre), also known as little St-Pierre Lake, fed into the St-Pierre River flowing to the St Lawrence River. The lake has now disappeared and can only be heard underneath the city through the sewers. The Lake spanned almost seven kilometres, its width at certain points being up to one kilometre, and covered the areas that are now Ville St. Pierre, Montreal West, Nôtre-Dame-de-Grace, St. Henri and Atwater. The name of this lake is said to have come from the Indigenous populations who surrounded it in reference to its shape, that of a baby otter inside a larger otter shape (the island of Montreal). The Iroquois cultivated the shores of the lake but with the arrival of the French and the fur trade in the 17th century the lake became used more and more for coureurs and voyageurs.
This projects aim was to follow the shores of this mysterious lake and document the sights and sounds. Through this experience we can see and hear what exists in these locations today.

There is so much mystery surrounding the exact location of Otter Lake and throughout my research I was only able to find certain points where the lake was known to be located. My goal was to see what this lake looks like today in all the points where I know the lake used to be. Initially I wanted to follow the shoreline but this was difficult due to the mystery surrounding the exact location of the lake as a whole and also the construction happening over many areas that the lake covered. So I mapped different points I found in my research and went to discover all those points. It was through this journey of exploring areas that was I able to rediscover parts of this forgotten lake in the present.

Video #1: Parc du Lac-a-la-Loutre

This park is an homage to Otter Lake, a lake that was completely lost due to the development of the City and the Lachine Canal. It is said that the park now rests on top of where part of the lake used to be. This park is the only remaining reference to the lost lake that spanned about seven kilometres from Ville St. Pierre through Notre Dame de Grace and St Henri and was one kilometre wide at its widest point.

Video #2: Parc du Lac-a-la-Loutre Fence

The fence of the park follows the shoreline of the forgotten lake. There is a lot of mystery around where the lakeshore was exactly located, this is the only point that is certain. This park is located at the corner of Courcelle and Saint-Ambroise.

Video #3: Underneath the Turcot Exchange Wide

Part of Otter Lake is known to have been right under the Turcot Interchange. It followed the railway tracks closely around this location and right around here is the point that the trains crossed the lake on their way to Lachine.

Video #4: Underneath the Turcot Interchange Close

The crumbling Turcot Exchange looms over the location of the former lake. The lake was filled using the dirt excavated for the Lachine Canal that would be an easier was of crossing the island.

Video #5: View Across Highway 20

As cars drive along this stretch of Highway 20 their view on one side are the Turcot Yards. This is where a large part of the lake was before it was filled up. Accessing this area is difficult. This view shows what exists now on what was probably the shore or edges of the lake. We can see the big piles of earth showing the constant construction happening in the area. Imagine standing here and seeing a green swamp and lake.

Video #6: View of Turcot Yards from Above

Trying to get many different views of the Turcot Yards is a difficult task. There are so many things blocking access and a view of the area whether it is the highway, fences, walls, or trees. Here it is from above along Rue Saint-Jacques, through the many trees that block the view.

Video #7: The Turcot Yards

The Turcot Yards are directly above where Otter Lake used to be. The ground was raised six feet since the days of Otter Lake and construction continues due to the ground not being solid. There have been debates about how to use this abandoned area. There are many who have begun arguing that the lake ought to be brought back.

Video #8: Saint-Pierre Exchange

This is the location where Otter Lake ended and it is now known as the St-Pierre Exchange where construction often closes the different parts of the interchange and keeps being delayed.

Video #9: Lachine Canal

The Lachine Canal runs close and at times intersects with the location of the former lake. Due to the shallow and swamp-like nature of the lake it was covered up to make way for the canal that would be a sure way of moving through the island easily. The land that was dug up to make the canal was used to cover up the lake. Now with these debates about bringing Otter Lake back they are saying that water from the canal would be used to fill the lake.

Many people do not know that this lake even existed, let alone the Indigenous presence that surrounded it. The land we live on has a history that so many are unaware of, even histories that are below the surface and hidden.