Facts About James Bay, Canada, For Before You Visit

Canada is known for its bacon, hockey, and unassuming yet obliging individuals; but it is also a known fact that the country's landscape and wilderness are among the world's best.

James Bay is a massive waterway located in the southern part of Hudson Bay in Canada that borders the Canadian areas of Quebec and Ontario. Islands inside James Bay are some of the biggest, for instance, the Akimiski Island, which is an essential part of the Nunavut territory.

James Bay was considered as a significant area for the development of the British into the Canadian province and for the foundation of the Hudson's Bay Company, which exists today. The first trading factory/store on James Bay was set up by Captain Zachariah Gillam and Medard des Groseilliers.

James Bay is named after Thomas James, the Welsh Captain, who was quick to thoroughly investigate and explore this region. His excursion occurred between 1630 and 1631.

It was Henry Hudson who initially explored Hudson Bay; he returned with his group to explore further but was trapped in the Hudson Bay, someplace near the James Bay area, as the whole bay was frozen.

Who were the indigenous people that initially inhabited the James Bay area? What is the largest island in James Bay called? Read on to find out!

What is the James Bay water project?

James Bay is situated at Hudson Bay's southern end, and it borders the provinces of Quebec and Ontario.

A Canadian province - Quebec - has been building hydroelectric dams on the waterways that feed into the east coast of James Bay starting around 1971. These dams are equipped to provide a considerable portion of the surrounding regions with power every year.

The James Bay Project is an initiative to develop several hydroelectric power stations on the La Grande river, near northwestern Quebec. This project aims to make a freshwater hotspot for locals and individuals living in the region, providing them with many benefits.

However, it is unlikely that it will at any point be finished. James Bay freezes over before Hudson Bay does each wintertime and defrosts first too.

Another project by the name Great Recycling and Northern Development Canal was initiated with the idea that it would transform James Bay into a freshwater lake. However, this task would be extremely challenging to finish. If it is finished, it would provide plenty of fresh water to the local people, which would be very beneficial.

Can you fish in James Bay?

If you think you've experienced what a really long drive feels like, try driving on James Bay Road, it's around a 578 mi (930 km) drive upper east side of Toronto and around eight or nine hours or 416 mi (670 km) of driving from Ontario.

The fishermen here gladly brag about their noteworthy catches. The vast and diverse fauna of this area, large rivers and lakes, makes it a fisherman's favored spot. The most desired species for fishermen found here are walleye, northern pike, capelin, Arctic charr, stream trout, whitefish, cisco, sculpins, and lake trout.

Akimiski, the bay's largest island, is a coastal wetland that houses several different species of migratory birds throughout the year. A huge portion of the western shore of James Bay is known as the Polar Bear Provincial Park, and its name is pretty self-explanatory. The polar bears here prey on the ringed seals found in James Bay.

This bay comprises swamps, mud, salt-pads, sand, freshwater ponds, lakes, and several rivers flowing into James Bay, including the Harricana River, Eastmain River, Rupert River, Nottaway River, Moose Stream, Albany River, and the Kesagami River.

Other than the rivers, the Rupert Fort, the Charles Fort, Fort Albany, and the Moose Manufacturing Plant located at the mouths of the rivers sharing the same name are well known as they were Hudson Bay Company's active posts.

To fish in James Bay or Northern Quebec, you need to familiarize yourself with the Act regarding hunting and fishing privileges in the James Bay and New Quebec domains.

What is the James Bay disaster?

Before European natives, the Cree people lived at James Bay.

The James Bay Project raised several debates for its consequences for the indigenous people groups nearby and on the climate as it overflowed a large portion of land that was home to the James Bay Cree and Inuit people.

Furthermore, the flooding caused by the project also contaminated the fish with mercury. The mercury-contaminated water resulted in decaying vegetation near the reservoirs and added to the unfortunate deaths of about 10,000 caribou.

When this project was declared by Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa, it was challenged and opposed by the Cree, who had not been informed about the new changes taking place in James Bay.

The dispute ended in 1975 with the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. The Cree gave up their territorial claims in the agreement but held exclusive hunting and fishing privileges. The town of Fort George at the mouth of the La Grande river was evacuated and the residents migrated upstream. It is presently called Chisasibi.

Are there whales in James Bay?

James Bay is a shallow salty inland that is covered with ice for roughly six months out of 12.

Minke whales have reportedly been spotted near the southern regions of Hudson Bay and James Bay, and ongoing conversations with Inuit trackers have supported potential sightings near the Foxe basin and many areas of western Hudson Bay. They are usually seen by the Inuit people residing in the eastern Hudson Strait.