In early May 2025, an unusual occurrence rocked a rural community in Quebec’s Waswanipi area, as locals discovered that an entire lake had disappeared without a trace.
Just days earlier, a massive landslide had reportedly occurred close to Lac Rouge, after which the lake’s banks seemingly burst, allowing its water to punch through a series of smaller water bodies over a six-mile stretch before eventually draining into Lake Doda.
Members of the Waswanipi community initially learned of the unusual occurrence after discovering a washed-out road between the two lakes, leading to ground and aerial investigations that revealed Lac Rouge had mysteriously emptied after land around the lake had collapsed.
The Day the Lake Vanished
The exact cause of the sudden break and rapid draining of Lac Rouge remains unknown. However, the incident “may be related to post-fire land conditions, snowmelt, or recent rainfall,” according to a statement issued in May by the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi.
“Further information is being gathered to better understand what occurred and to assess any potential risks in the surrounding area,” the statement added. “We will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as more details become available.”
Now, satellite imagery acquired by the Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2) on Landsat 9, which has been operated by the USGS since 2022, is revealing clues that could help scientists determine what conditions allowed for the lake’s disappearance earlier this year. The images, made available at NASA’s Earth Observatory website, show dramatic before-and-after views of Lac Rouge and the path created by its outflow in May.
Clues Emerge in Satellite Imagery
Based on the satellite data obtained by OLI-2, the eastern bank of Lac Rouge appears to have failed, leading to a new outflow path toward the northeast. From this eastern breach, water passed through several smaller ponds and lakes before it made its way to Lac Doda.
In the newly released satellite imagery, darker areas of Lac Doda can be seen where water from Lac Rouge entered after collecting sediments along the six-mile path between the two lakes. According to NASA, Landsat satellite imagery reveals that the incident likely occurred sometime between April 29 and May 14, which may help officials determine whether factors such as snowmelt, precipitation, or wildfires in the region contributed to the breach along the lake’s northeastern shore.
One possibility is that fires that occurred in areas around the lake several years ago, between 2019 and 2023, may have contributed to the phenomenon, particularly through the burning of small brush whose roots could have helped the soil around the lake remain resistant to erosion. Another potential effect of wildfires is that they may have caused the soil to become hydrophobic (i.e., water-repellent), making it more likely to flow across its surface rather than being absorbed.
Still another possibility is that a more rapid melting of snow earlier this Spring may have caused a sudden influx of meltwater that entered Lac Rouge shortly before it failed in May.
An Ongoing Investigation Into Why a Lake Vanished
Until the cause of the lake’s mysterious vanishing act is determined, local officials have warned area residents to remain cautious near the vicinity of Lac Rouge and other lakes in the region, particularly those near forests that have recently undergone alteration.
“At this time, extreme caution is advised when travelling near lakes surrounded by forests affected by recent wildfires or major forestry operations,” read the May notice issued by the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi.
“Caution must be considered for similar conditions that may have affected water bodies near past forest fire activity and call on local knowledge to be shared as we assess the most potentially vulnerable sites,” the statement read.
Although Cree First Nation of Waswanipi officials say there is no immediate threat to the public, residents are advised to “remain vigilant” until the cause of Lac Rouge’s draining is fully determined.
Additional information and imagery can be found at NASA’s Earth Observatory website in an entry by Lindsey Doermann with images by Wanmei Liang.
Correction: This article was updated to reflect that Landsat 9 has been operated by the USGS since 2022, at which time NASA transferred ownership and operational control to the agency.
Micah Hanks is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of The Debrief. He can be reached by email at micah@thedebrief.org. Follow his work at micahhanks.com and on X: @MicahHanks.