René-Levasseur Island

René-Levasseur Island is a large annular island in central Quebec formed by the inner ring of the Manicouagan impact structure and now surrounded by the Manicouagan Reservoir. The island and reservoir together form one of the most visually distinct impact features on Earth.

The island’s central massif and rocky outcrops stand within a roughly circular shoreline created when the reservoir filled, and the site is notable for its geological origin as the remnant of a major meteorite impact. Visitors and researchers are drawn to the island for geological features, remote wilderness and scenic viewpoints over the reservoir.

The impact that formed the structure occurred in the Mesozoic era about 214 million years ago, leaving the annular island and surrounding ring lake that are visible on maps and from satellite imagery. The island’s size is approximately two thousand square kilometres, and it lies in the remote interior of Quebec within the Manicouagan reservoir system.

Access is seasonal and limited; visits typically require boat transport across the reservoir or arrangements through regional operators, and facilities on the island are minimal.

• Impact origin: The island occupies the inner ring of the Manicouagan impact structure, one of the largest visible impact craters on Earth, formed roughly 214 million years ago.
• Size: The island’s land area is on the order of two thousand square kilometres, making it one of the largest lake islands worldwide and a prominent geomorphological feature in central Quebec.

What to See#

• Mont Babel: Mont Babel, the central massif on the island, forms a prominent rocky core that rises above the surrounding reservoir and is a focus for hiking and natural history interpretation.
• Crater rim and shoreline: The circular crater rim and shoreline, which mark the inner margin of the Manicouagan impact structure and provide the island’s distinctive ring-shape within the reservoir.
• Trails and viewpoints: Shoreline and trail areas used for seasonal recreation, wildlife observation and access to geological viewpoints across the Manicouagan Reservoir.

• René‑Levasseur Island is in the Manicouagan annular reservoir and has no bridge access - arrange boat transport or a guided trip from mainland operators (summer is the usual boating season).
• Plan for limited services and patchy cell coverage on the island: bring spare fuel/charging and confirm where you will land and meet your pickup, and book any guided hikes (for example to the central high point) through a local outfitter in advance.