Lake Vanishes Overnight in Northern Quebec

Experts are investigating the sudden disappearance of a lake in northern Quebec. Last May, Lake Rouge drained completely in a rare geological event called an 'outburst.' The water traveled nearly 10 kilometers overland before emptying into the larger Lake Waswanipi. The event has sparked a local and scientific mystery: was it a natural occurrence or influenced by human activity? Manoel Dixon, 26, first learned of the event while at his family's hunting camp near the town of Waswanipi. A fellow hunter sent a message that was difficult to believe—the lake was gone. Scientists are now studying the site. They aim to determine if natural erosion finally wore down the lake's natural dam or if nearby forestry roads altered water flow patterns, contributing to the collapse. The answer will help understand the increasing frequency of such outbursts in a region undergoing significant climate and landscape changes.