Betsiamites River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Betsiamites River |
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Drainage basin in yellow
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Côte-Nord |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lake Manouanis Mont-Valin 50°45′10″N 70°19′20″W / 50.75278°N 70.32222°W |
| River mouth | Saint Lawrence River Betsiamites FN Reserve 0 m (0 ft) 48°56′00″N 68°37′20″W / 48.93333°N 68.62222°W |
| Length | 444 km (276 mi)to head of Manouanis River |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 18,700 km2 (7,200 sq mi) |
The Betsiamites River, also known as Bersimis, is an important river in Quebec, Canada. It flows through the beautiful Côte-Nord region. This river eventually joins the mighty Saint Lawrence River.
The Betsiamites River is quite long, stretching for about 444 kilometers (276 miles). It starts from Lake Manouanis in the Mont-Valin area. From there, it makes its way southeast. The river's basin, which is the area of land that drains into it, covers about 18,700 square kilometers (7,220 square miles). This is a very large area!
Contents
Making Electricity: Hydro-electric Power
The Betsiamites River is very important for making electricity. It has two large hydro-electric power stations. These stations use the power of flowing water to create electricity. They are owned by a company called Hydro-Québec.
How Hydro-electric Power Works
Hydro-electric power is a clean way to make electricity. It uses the natural flow of a river. Here's how it generally works:
- A large wall, called a dam, is built across the river.
- The dam creates a big lake behind it, called a reservoir.
- Water from the reservoir flows through large pipes called penstocks.
- This fast-moving water spins giant turbines, which are like big propellers.
- The spinning turbines then power generators that produce electricity.
The Bersimis Dams
There are two main dams and power stations on the Betsiamites River:
Bersimis-1 Generating Station
The Bersimis-1 generating station was built in 1956. It is a very powerful station. It can produce 1,125 megawatts (MW) of electricity. To give you an idea, one megawatt can power hundreds of homes! This station helps provide power to many communities.
The Pipmuacan Reservoir is a huge artificial lake created by the Bersimis-1 Dam. It covers about 978 square kilometers (378 square miles). This reservoir is roughly halfway along the Betsiamites River's path. It stores a lot of water, which is then used to generate electricity.
Bersimis-2 Generating Station
The Bersimis-2 generating station was completed a few years later, in 1959. It is also very powerful, able to produce 845 MW of electricity. Both Bersimis-1 and Bersimis-2 are crucial for Quebec's energy supply. They show how rivers can be used to create clean, renewable energy.
See also
In Spanish: Río Betsiamites para niños
