GGC - 13 - World's Largest Visible Impact Crater and Daniel-Johnson Dam

Part 10 of our road trip across Northern Quebec and Eastern Canada. Continuing our drive up the 389 from Baie-Comeau to Labrador City, we came across the Daniel-Johnson Hydroelectric Dam (the largest "multiple arch buttress dam" in the world), and the Manicougan Crater (the largest visible impact crater on Earth)

[@I_Am_Michael]

a really big beaver built that dam

[@terryskeans1221]

+michael adams Funny Funny

[@hhubre]

Lmao you are surely funny

[@gaetan458]

Great ingo thanks. I noticed you were looking at your phone for GPS information while you did not have access to Internet. my question is, do you have a GPS integrated into your phone? if yes which software are you using and how reliable is it? thanks

[@BackToReality]

+Gaetan Giroux I use the "Tom Tom" app on my phone. It works great, even when you have no cell service. I think it was like 50 bucks, which is pretty pricy for an app, but it's way cheaper than buying a standalone GPS unit. Google maps is a little more responsive, but only works when you have an Internet connection, so Tom Tom is a great backup. We've had to use it quite a bit when up north.

[@ken1783]

check out HERE maps as well. It is a free app. HERE maps are the folks that supply the map data to Garmin, so you know their maps are good.

[@BackToReality]

Great tip! Thanks!

[@gaetan458]

+ken1783 thank you for the information

[@SmokeFlame1]

Nice Video. I am very familiar with the Manicouagan river, having been born and brought up in the area. I don't mean to be critical but the pronunciation is Manny-kwah'-guhn, (accent on the second syllable.) But don't feel bad, you pronounced it as almost everyone else does. I worked on the first dam as a student back in the early 50's (I'm 85 years old.) Back then it was known as the McCormack dam near Baie Comeau. On your trip you may have seen it. In any case I enjoyed your video. It brought back so many happy days of my youth.

[@cecilbroom5652]

Thanks for including the background information.

[@BackToReality]

+Cecil Broom My pleasure Cecil. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@doobyboy21]

You could have easily toured the dam inside and on top of it if you would have called Hydro Quebec. During the summer they have students wokring there and you can visit the dam for free 7 days a week. They do this for show but you can see fish (trout) swimming under your feet on the passerelle. And then they take you to a theater and you can see the construction of the dam and you get a free souvenir ! A Hydro Quebec key chain and cup ! Nice video !

[@mlpmlb08]

Manic is a short for Manicouagan. Manicouagan is a regional county municipality in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec. It is located on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River with its seat in Baie-Comeau .

[@FotoHysteria]

dammit i'm mad spelled backwards is dammit i'm mad...hahaha

[@RETIREMESOON]

Study say's that people that swear alot .......are very honest by nature.......embrace the swearing

[@BackToReality]

lol...thanks Bruce. :)

[@ka1133]

I have to saw that you have definitely peaked my curiosity. Because you mentioned the Manicouagan Crater I had to look it up and found a most interesting article on the 10 largest craters on earth. The oldest dating back some 2.2 billion years. Fascinating stuff to say the least. Where would we be without Professor Google? :)

[@8739557]

ka1133 *piqued... the word is PIQUED... as in PIQUED my curiosity, you ignorant moronic buffoon. Grow a brain or read a book for once.

[@HockeyPlayoffRun]

Your an idiot, grow up and educate instead of insulting like I just did.

[@alfredisaac4885]

ka1133 Ignore The most intelligent igorant troll in the world....lol

[@Dormousey]

Fine to correct someone's spelling. Not fine to insult them; get a life.

[@tomjones2121]

We'll have to look up the word Manic , after driving 125 miles up the shores of the MANICouagan river

[@cujoman21]

Thank you for posting this video. As a young man in his early teens I had the opportunity to work at this dam for Hydro Quebec. My father was the Superintendent in charge of the machine shop for this project. Because we were an english speaking family and I was in my high school years, there were no high schools in the area so Hydro paid for my education at a private school in Quebec City. During the summer months I gained employment working on this dam and in particular at the powerhouse area where the turbines for the dam were installed. I remember so man times travelling the paved and gravel road between Baie Comeau and Manic 5. It was a dangerous route at that time as it was not uncommon to meet hundreds of huge cement trucks travelling from Baie Comeau to the job site. Many people lost their lives in car collisions along that route. As a family, we lived in a trailer park about 5 miles away from the job site. These huge 60 foot trailers were supplied to the families as residences. My family resided there from early 1963 until 1968. From that point on my father was transferred from Manic 5 to a new Hydro electric Project in James Bay. It is amazing to think back today about the benefits that these Hydro projects brought to Quebecers. The Manic Projects are the legacy of Rene Levesque, then President of Hydro Quebec and later he became the Leader of the Parti Quebecois. Mr. Levesque's legacy will live on forever. He had a dream and it was fulfilled.

[@tomjones2121]

though early impact from the James Bay project were horrible , since it's completion like Manicouagan , the regions fishing and hunting has explosed 5 times over , more fish more caribou then they know what to do with ..

[@blakdfje]

I really like your video's. Can't quite remember how I found you, but I subscribed :)

[@BackToReality]

+blakdfje Lol, well however it happened, We're glad that you found us! Thanks for the sub!

[@epicvape6546]

AMAZING!! The DJ dam was so massive. I didn't think it was going to be that big but when you turned around you really got a great idea of its size. Also, the crater was awesome to see. It was unbelievable knowing just how huge that was. Thumbs up and loving the adventure so far:)

[@BackToReality]

+Epic Vape THanks for your comment, Epic! I felt the exact same way about the dam. I could tell it was huge from a distance, but it wasn't until we got up close that I realized just how massive it really was.

[@jimvarner49ah]

That is one big damn, thank you for taking us along on your journey. I really enjoy your videos, please keep them coming. Safe travels to the both of you:))

[@BackToReality]

+Jimmy Varner Thanks Jimmy! Glad you're enjoying our videos! And thanks for the comment!

[@carlandersonlll6861]

Been through there going to Labrador City every June when I was 11 in 1992 with my dad. In 1992 you could drive on top of the dam to get across. I cannot remember what year they gated both end due to safety and had to drive around on the right of the dam. In either 1992 or 1993 with my dad and he stopped the truck in the middle of being on the dam (The sign says do not stop) and my sad quickly got out and took a pic looking down. My sister has a camp she leases in Gagnon on Lac Barbel. My dad has been going to Labrador City since 1989 and in 1989 he told me there were 2 houses left in Gagnon and i think he said the inuits were hired to tearing one house down while they were staying in the other then tearing the second one down. Oh and the whole road from Baie Comeau to Fermont is now tarred which is good, but I miss riding on the gravel roads there.

[@terryskeans1221]

Well Now !!! Its me the Guy in Kentucky that usually wouldn't give a Nickel to see or do what you all are doing and that is said in the Nicest of way because I've done I guess so much over the years that its kind of Been there Done that kind of thing and that's a big part of it. Now saying that. Wow I loved this Video and would Love to see that stuff in person. Amazing. That Dam blew my mind. So Great Job Guys. I do worry about you all being in such remote places in case you broke down and you better keep a close eye on your van. Those roads are going to beat it to death. So be careful and enjoy. I'm making progress on my 1952 School Bus and in 2 months and one week. I'm retiring. Wow almost made it. Then I will do some wondering around myself. Only in a Cooler Auto. Ha Ha Eat your Heart out. :)

[@BackToReality]

+Terry Skeans Lol. Now now Terry, nobody likes a bragger :) Glad you enjoyed the video,. and we'd still love to see some progress photos or videos of your bus!

[@SailorGerry]

Have been up to Manic 5 dam in 1979 and back in 1986, a friend and myself stayed overnight in Louisville, Kentucky. What was so memorable about the evening, was that no one could knock us off the pool table, until one young fellow exclaimed: 'dang - where you guys from?!!'. When we replied 'Montreal, Canada, he mentioned that he had never heard of Montreal, but that he knew of Canada - 'that's north!'. Nonetheless, we had a good time that night at that bar in Louisville - the locals buying us beer the rest of the night and curious as to what in the hell that two Canucks were doing in Louisville? It was a memorable evening and we met very nice & friendly people. Cheers! and enjoy your trip if you ever decide to take a trip up to the dam and beyond...

[@NLJosh83]

"Manic" is short for Manicougan River

[@petetehl33t]

Hey cool video :) I live in Baie-Comeau ! Manic comes from Manicouagan :)

[@tomjones2121]

manic 5 has improved fishing , hunting and wildlife as a whole, the native people of the region never frequented that area until hydro quebec built a road there , the local natives are Montagnais , and they live and hunt near the st lawrence river along river edges connecting to the st lawrence

[@davidlefranc6240]

exactly

[@JeffDale613]

You should have really installed a CB in the van. Most of these truckers use CB to let the others know that are coming in the other direction that. in most places it's a requirement.

[@BackToReality]

+Jeff Dale Good point, Jeff. We have a CB for the van but didn't bring it along on this trip. We had it with us last summer but never really found it useful. Now we know, it's worth the little space it takes up, even if it's only used once.

[@PanDemic]

There always has to be that one troll that goes around disliking videos! Great vid! Keep em coming!

[@jeanluke39]

just as douchies that are COVIDIOTS like you ,,,,

[@TheLabradoria]

Another great video, I remember as a kid going on vacation in the 80's we would drive across the top of manic 5. Now i want to take a trip back home again....lol. Keep up the great videos guys !!!!

[@BackToReality]

+TheLabradoria That's really cool TheLabradoria! I take it by your username that you're from that area?

[@TheLabradoria]

+A Guy. A Girl. And a Campervan ....Yup

[@TheKattbelly]

That was so interesting about the crater lake-I went back and looked at your map again-thanks for including that! You've inspired me to do some reading about this-great job!

[@BackToReality]

+Kattbelly That's awesome Kattbelly! Glad to have inspired you. We found it incredibly interesting as well! Thanks for your comment!

[@joeuser1120]

You're right. Manic is short for Manicougan which is pronounced like : manic-iwh-wa-gan

[@paulf5415]

Keep the videos coming! I'm in Vermont. We'd rather have the hydro power than the ugly wind turbines!

[@BackToReality]

+Paul Fontaine Here in Ontario, we have a lot of wind turbines as well, and they tend to irritate a lot of people as well. Thanks for watching, and for the comment!

[@martinmartin5904]

just do what they are doing in upstate NY , they just put some at hundred feet of the border with us Québec. The proverb ''not in my backyard'' has never been so true ://www.google.fr/maps/@44.998578,-73.9165533,1046m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=fr

[@billbye1432]

by golly gee whiz and here i sit with my barley pop after consulting my frog to english translator book, oh well be safe and don't worry unless our very own" tennessee 2x4" (algore) decides to emigrate up there / if he does get out quick!

[@BackToReality]

+bill bye Lol Bill, your comments always make us laugh. Thanks again!

[@billbye1432]

i really enjoy your very informative trip and really enjoy both of your comments. im kinda a clown and in my dotage i just have fun and kid alot. stay safe and may God keep you both safe and enjoy his creation.

[@AvailableUsernameTed]

I saw the Exploring Alternatives video about you and came here. I only just recently heard about this crater and had to watch this. I enjoyed watching and am going to check out your other videos for sure.

[@kurtwendorf4747]

Beautiful county. I really miss the lake area of the north. If you ever wish to visit the desolate area of west Texas, get in touch. Travel safe you two!

[@BackToReality]

+Kurt Wendorf Where abouts did you live in the north? I'd love to start traveling south next. We'll let you know if we ever make it to Texas!

[@kurtwendorf4747]

+A Guy. A Girl. And a Campervan North of Minneapolis. I spent my summers in the middle (north south) of Minnesota on the western side. Made a few trips into the BWCA for weeks at a time.

[@KE4VVF]

I've always wanted to swim in an asteroid crater.

[@BackToReality]

+KE4VVF Ah shoot! I never thought to swim in it! Now I'll have to go back... lol

[@Ballenxj]

COOL video, nice scenery, and good information along the way. Thanks.

[@DarkGodSeti]

"This is reeally strage..." I'd say the same thing! Not big on heights either, Really would not enjoy that... But I would want to...

[@alfredisaac4885]

Can anybody go to the middle of The Crater?

[@davidlefranc6240]

some yes but its a protected zone the middle is was a mountain but now its an isle

[@242rox12]

Great videos! Just reconfirms my goal to get an RV so that my wife and I can go "exploring". Keep up the great work and thanks so much for sharing!!

[@HomeMoviesdotCa]

Anybody wonder why the centre of Manicouagan is 300 metres higher than the surrounding land ? That's not typical of impact craters. Maybe Manicouagan was a very ancient intelligent Dino Beings' moated mega-city !!

[@TheShootist]

uh, hello? google central uplift

[@paulbriggs3072]

Tell me-would that vegetation be preserved forever and never rot unless it was underwater? Its like things an 8th grader could refute. Forests are covered with rotting vegetation. They produce tons of leaves and branches per acre that ....wait for it....ROT! which are NOT produced by underwater places. Underwater places produce plants and animals that die also and rot as well, which makes that reservoir the SAME as the vast number of lakes in Quebec. (And I mean VAST number of lakes!). But the most hot gas of all comes from environmentalist hysteria mongers.

[@tomjones2121]

electrical wires ? LOL too funny , . maybe you were thinking , transmission lines , yeah that the word you were looking for , I'm sure

[@ginnyd9944]

Thank you, enjoying the ride along. You guys are great.

[@BackToReality]

+Ginny D Thanks for coming along, Ginny! And thanks for the comment :)

[@Supernaut2000]

Hydro electricity is, as you said, one of the better ways to generate electricity. Yes, ANYTHING we humans do is 'destructive' one way or the other. So unless you want to go back to the Stone Ages, then don't complain about it and consider it the price to pay for the world we live in and the modern conveniences we so often take for granted and scream loudest when they are absent. Remember too if it wasn't for these series of dams in Quebec, you would not be privileged to travel so easily into these remote areas otherwise and enjoy the scenery, etc. it has to offer and prepare your videos.

[@dre3375]

Between the Northern light show and this Dam ...I believe YOUR LIVING THE dream!!!!!! LOL Have fun and thank you for sharing you journeys. All the best Dr E

[@BackToReality]

+DR E Thanks so much DR! Often times, life gets in the way and we start to get bogged down by all the little difficulties and stresses. It's nice to step back every once in a while and recognize all the wonderful things we have around us. We may not have money, but who needs it anyway! ;) Thanks for your comment!

[@noeljshah1]

Up to now what saw in your clips was your explanation is a incredible I m impress the one thing witch is bothering us your out door mic when is too windy anyway I have watch your all clips n I like them just keep sending the same way have a good one.

[@S1lentJoy]

Great series...been following 4 awhile. keep them coming. Ps: minor detail...river is pronounced manikouwagan :-)

[@BackToReality]

+Watrworld Thanks for following Watrworld! And thanks for the correction!

[@jeff8wood]

No worrys mate I have enjoyed myself

[@gwyndekker7361]

Thank YOU for taking the time to share your adventures with us. I smile just about every time y'all bring us into your life. And how brave to clamp down that fear of heights as you venture 700 feet up. You go girl!

[@BackToReality]

+Gwyn Dekker Aw, thanks for your comment Gwyn. We really appreciate it :)

[@ala116]

great video as all ways . thank for charing . after that trip , no road will be a problem to travel ....lol is't a real rough road to travel up there . alain .

[@BackToReality]

+ala116 Thanks Ala! You couldn't be more right about the road! lol

[@zerskier]

ive seen that crazy looking lake on maps and wondered what it looks like,, thanks for taking us along..

[@BackToReality]

+zerskier That's awesome Zerskier, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I'd been looking at that lake on maps for years too! Thanks for the comment!

[@skpjoecoursegold366]

i'd buy a ladle. yes, that is a big dam, damn!

[@BackToReality]

+SKPjoe Coursegold I agree... buying a ladle would be a damn good idea! :)

[@rcflyer5789]

Watched your videos and really enjoy them, nice to see how ell you both get along in such close quarters, even when things aren't going well (tires) you both still remain positive and compliment each other well. Very nice to see

[@BackToReality]

+Rc Flyer Thanks for your comment, Rc. We really appreciate it!

[@Tyler380]

I understand the need for water... In your past travels I notice that they have cut down millions of trees.. We will never recover from the impact of that.. The world is feeling the difference each day..

[@BackToReality]

+Larry 306 I hear ya, Larry. It's sad.

[@26181982]

Love your life your free and enjoy all the great places go where the road takes you, I hope one day I can do what you two do, keep it up can't wait for the next road trip

[@BackToReality]

+Stojan Borojevic Thanks so much Stojan! Thanks for following along, and thanks for your comment!

[@jamesmatthews8892]

Avid watcher from England, keep it up guys!

[@BackToReality]

+James Matthews Thanks for watching, James! And thanks for the comment!

[@MartyLInTheDoghouse]

Thanks for sharing the journey. Looking forward to the next video.

[@BackToReality]

+Marty “In The Doghouse” L. Thanks for following Marty! I notice you've got some van videos as well. We'll check them out. Also, I have to ask... How come you're "in the doghouse?" lol

[@bernardlafleur8342]

Emphasis on the A . Manicou A gan.

[@toddboone1845]

Dang thats a bunch of concrete in that dam. Thanks for sharing!!

[@BackToReality]

+Todd Boone Lol, is it ever! From what I've read, it's 2.9 million cubic yards of concrete. That's an unimaginable amount...

[@sandrafreeman8819]

I was at Manic 5 in 2015. I Camped 5 min from the Gas Station. As I used this Road to drive the T.L.H.W. My Wife and have been to Waskaganish. Twice. They are Great People. We would Love to go back up again some Day.

[@Freecan67]

We share one of our devices. So I wrote the coment above this Not realizing I was on my Wife's you tube Page. Keep them coming.

[@tonyforrester5072]

So where is the rock that made the hole

[@barryparsons6092]

Loved watching these....comparing with Australian road trips...... so much water!!!!

[@pierrec1590]

The actual name is spelled "Manicouagan", not -cougan, and another way to describe the pronunciation is "manic-wagon"

[@martinmartin5904]

qu'est tu veux , en anglais ils prononcent tout différemment comme Monne tri all , Parish .

[@dwohio6398]

What a fine couple you are!

[@jimdavis8804]

Have you tried pour over Coffer. It's Great.

[@BackToReality]

+Jim Davis Good suggestion. We'll try it! Thanks for the comment!

[@tomjones2121]

also, it's not a lake , it's a reservoir , ( man made ) just saying , you guys did like zero research didn't you ? LOL , still I'm glad you went and you are better humans for knowing all of this now .

[@davidlefranc6240]

Just the part behind the dam , the rest was flodeed with time it took 13 years to fill it up 2000km2 and 200km long the isle in the middle was a mountain before !

[@ClearAdventure]

You guys seem super cool! I had to sub. Great video, thanks for sharing this info! - Kevin

[@terryskeans1221]

+Clear Adventure Love that Dog

[@BackToReality]

+Clear Adventure Thanks for the sub! And thanks for your comment!

[@Hvtesla]

Don't passing motorists or trucks ever slow down when on a gravel road anymore. Good way to get a busted windscreen (or windshield)

[@Marc_de_Car]

Truckers have priority on certain roadways in the high north and their speed is monitored.

[@Jim-vp8cw]

Thanks for sharing your travels.

[@BackToReality]

+Jim Traveler Thanks for coming along! And thanks for the comment!

[@kevinurbano4677]

Beautiful couple

[@AlBeebe]

i was looking at google maps and said, hey lets youtube search "Daniel Johnson Dam" and here i am. excellent video

[@sailingsolar]

Fantastic, thank you for having us.

[@BackToReality]

+sailingsolar Thank YOU for watching :)

[@Antlers_life]

Wow you guys are SO cool!!!!!

[@BackToReality]

+Antler CityStyle Aw, thanks so much, Antler!

[@dougfairweather]

Love following you guys... It's great seeing some Canadian scenery. Let me know if you would like to see some of our Aussie footage.

[@BackToReality]

+Doug Fairweather Thanks Doug! Do you have any of your footage online?

[@dougfairweather]

+A Guy. A Girl. And a Campervan I'm a little new at this, but can see myself getting into it a bit more.... I have 2 or 3 vids on my channel, and will upload another from the weekend just gone. Our camping is more tent and 4x4 but we love seeing new country... hence why I enjoy yours! Feel free to have a look, Doug.

[@martinmartin5904]

Québec scenery yes , canadian ?...It's against us .

[@jrjmc9627]

Hudson Bay looks like an impact with the way it has that high center point in the middle of the circle.

[@lebon2002be]

Love you guys ! :-)Cheers,

[@BackToReality]

+Roger Olivier Aw, thanks Roger! :)

[@Prod_TKJ808]

squad

[@nayashams6845]

Derek you have good wife,Visa versa. God bless you.

[@BelindaTOV]

Woman at the wheel!!!

[@BackToReality]

You betchya! I drive as much as Derrick does. He likes to take pictures along the way which is great. I'm not very talented when it comes to that. :)

[@zephyr2731]

Dam! Damn!

[@I_Am_Michael]

damnit Lawrence the damn dam dams the damn river and provides damn electricity.

[@zephyr2731]

+michael adams DAMN!!!!

[@BackToReality]

+michael adams Lol, you guys are hilarious

[@dwohio6398]

What was that concrete structure at 1:54?

[@martinbourgeois7454]

DW Ohio Daniel-Johnson dam (Manic 5) the largest multiple-arch dam in the world (1.3km long)

[@paulcorbeil8876]

)

[@SisterShirley]

Thanks for the ride🚙

[@BackToReality]

Thanks for riding along! :)

[@SisterShirley]

A small pot with a spout and a ladle goes on the list

[@ka1133]

I just noticed the "PROPANE" sticker in your windshield. I was curious as to what it is for? I have propane in my RV but don't have a sticker of any kind.

[@trapu]

Nice ! Did that road 3 times with cars and i enjoy (almost) every miles of it. Last time wtih a friend, we did all the Trasn-Labrador highway (from labrador city to Blanc-Sablon) and it was a blast. We did 5800 km in 9 days if we included the west coast of Newfoundland and the road back from New-brunswick and Quebec up to Montréal.

[@BackToReality]

+martin That's awesome Martin! Sounds like you did a very similar trip to us! Glad you enjoyed it as well! :)

[@brotherlove885]

Most of all I like the love I see between the two of you enjoying life together as one GOD BLESS YOU BOTH

[@BackToReality]

+BROTHER Love Aw, thanks Brother. We really appreciate that!

[@tomjones2121]

again , another person who can't pronounce Manicouagan .. who the hell is Manni Coogan ?