# Maskinongé (municipality)

Maskinongé is a municipality of the Maskinongé Regional county municipality (MRC), in Mauricie, in Quebec, in Canada.
Every spring and fall, hundreds of thousands of migratory birds stop off by landing on Lac Saint-Pierre (and its tributaries) and on the surrounding land, many of which are flooded during the snowmelt period.

## Understand
### History

This toponym is of Algonquin origin, meaning "misshapen pike". The pike, designated Maskinongé, is widespread in the Maskinongé River and Lake Saint-Pierre.

### Geography

Located along the northwest shore of Lake Saint-Pierre, the village of Maskinongé is crossed by the course of the Maskinongé river, the Bois Blanc river and La Petite Rivière.
The northwest shore of lac Saint-Pierre includes Île aux Grues (bounded by the Maskinongé River, La Petite Rivière and the North Channel), the Cove of the Petite Rivière and the Bay of Maskinongé which is a vast shallow area where aquatic plants grow abundantly. This shoal zone, which extends over the entire north shore of Lake Saint-Pierre, that is to say as far as Pointe-du-lac, is suitable for migratory birds and aquatic fauna. The Petite Baie des Deux Montagnes separates the Île aux Grues (in Maskinongé) and the Iles de la Girodeau (in Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola).

### Economy

The village is also crossed by the Quebec-Gatineau rail section of the Canadian Pacific. Maskinongé station was a vector of economic development thanks to the transport of passengers and goods.
Municipality bordering Lake Saint-Pierre, Maskinongé has a great agricultural economic vocation, certain public services (e.g., schools, municipality, residences for seniors) and recreational tourism activities (vacationing, swimming, hunting, fishing, boating, marinas). Throughout its history, recreational, commercial and fishing boating has been an economic vector. Boating is possible on the Maskinongé River. The area bordering the Maskinongé River is densified by vacationing and permanent residences, especially between the village of Maskinongé and the confluence with the St. Lawrence River. And each side of the river has an access road to serve residents and vacationers. The hamlet "Langue-de-Terre" is located at the confluence of the Maskinongé river and the Saint-Laurent river.

## Get in

The village of Maskinongé is accessible by road, boat (via the St. Lawrence River), seaplane, snowmobile and all-terrain vehicles.

### By car

* From Montreal (102 km (63 mi). Time: 1 hr 8 min. Take highway 40 (north shore) heading east; take route 138 to the village of Maskinongé.
* From Quebec. (173 km (107 mi). Time: 1 hr 46 min. Take Autoroute 40 westbound to the Chemin Caron exit (northbound) to the village of Louiseville; take route 138 (westbound) to the village of Maskinongé.

### Collective transport by bus

The Express Bleu bus leaves from Cégep de Trois-Rivières (science pavilion) MF at 08:00, 12:00, 15:45 and 18:00, and later from Maskinongé (at the Ultramar gas station and opposite the church).

## Get around
### Gas stations

* 46.22192-73.016821 Station-service Harnois, 159, rang du boulevard Ouest, ☏ +1 819-227-2030. (updated Nov 2021)
* 46.20052-73.003032 Station-service Esso, 161, autoroute 40 Est, local 190, ☏ +1 819-227-1069. (updated Nov 2021)

## See

* 46.23409-73.056941 La Bichonnerie inc, 179, route du Pied de la Côte, ☏ +1 819-384-2558. Dairy sheepfold as well as several other animals! (updated Nov 2021)
* 46.22684-73.016062 Presbytère et église de Maskinongé, 27, rue Saint-Joseph, ☏ +1 819-227-4938. Church of Catholic denomination. (updated Nov 2021)
* 46.23609-72.989383 Salle du Royaume des Témoins de Jéhovah, 57, boul. Est, ☏ +1 819-227-2393. (updated Nov 2021)

## Do

* Navigation de plaisance (Yachting). Boating is possible on the Loup River depending on the water level and is very popular on Lake Saint-Pierre. The lower part of the Rivière du Loup has several docks used by residents or riparian vacationers, mainly downstream from the confluence of the Petite Rivière du Loup and the Rivière du Loup. (updated Nov 2021)
* 46.22788-73.018551 Centre des loisirs Desjardins (Desjardins Recreation Centre), 135-A, rue St-Charles, ☏ +1 819-626-0062. Main activities: given ball league, pétanque club, day camp (summer) for children, tennis, basketball, shuffleboard, children's play area, skating rink, skate park, table tennis. (updated Nov 2021)
* 46.22647-73.018442 Centre communautaire (Community Centre), 11, rue Marcel, ☏ +1 819-227-4656. (updated Nov 2021)

## Buy

* 46.22312-73.012991 Familiprix Extra - Chantale Gaboury, 147, boul. Est, route 138 Est, ☏ +1 819-227-2288, info@cassenoisettepepiniere.com. (updated Nov 2021)

## Eat

* 46.22533-73.010571 Restaurant La Caillette, 116 boul. Est, ☏ +1 819-227-2063. (updated Nov 2021)
* 46.22533-73.010572 Casse-Croûte Maski, 95 boul. Est, ☏ +1 819-227-1227. Several indoor seating areas and an outdoor picnic table area. (updated Nov 2021)

## Connect

* 46.22645-73.018461 Bibliothèque municipale Noëlla Livernoche, ☏ +1 819-227-4656, biblio059@reseaubibliocqlm.qc.ca. (updated Nov 2021)

## Go next

* 46.25-72.951 Louiseville Municipality bordering Lake Saint-Pierre, Louiseville has a great agricultural economic vocation and recreational tourism activities (vacationing, swimming, hunting, fishing, boating). Every spring and fall, hundreds of thousands of migratory birds stop off by landing on Lac Saint-Pierre (and its tributaries) and the surrounding land.
* 46.2236-73.03572 Sainte-Ursule This municipality of 1330 inhabitants covers 68 km$^2$ (26 sq mi). The main economic vocation of the territory is agriculture. The Sainte-Ursule Falls Park on the Maskinongé River is a tourist attraction.
* 46.2577-72.93413 Saint-Justin The main economic vocation of the territory is agriculture.
* 46.183333-73.1333334 Saint-Barthélemy (Quebec) Located at the eastern limit of the Lanaudière region, this locality has an agricultural and recreational tourism vocation.
* 46.0065-73.13465 Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola Municipality bordering Lac Saint-Pierre, Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola has a great agricultural and recreational tourism activities (vacationing, swimming, hunting, fishing, boating). Every spring and fall, hundreds of thousands of migratory birds stop off by landing on Lac Saint-Pierre (and its tributaries) and the surrounding land.