The mount is named after Catholic missionary Louis Babel (1829–1912), who is said to have converted Montagnais and Naskapis.

[2][3] Mount Babel is the central peak of the Manicouagan impact structure and was formed by the rebound of the crust after the impact of a meteor 210 million years ago.

The mountain and reservoir are of particular interest to geologists due to the shock metamorphosis it endured.

One can find montane and alpine climate zones there, since meteorological conditions become increasingly extreme towards the summit.

These conditions create a quick transition from boreal forest to tundra, where there can be found lichen and other arctic life forms that would normally be observed hundreds of kilometres farther north.