Blondeau River (Chibougamau Lake) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blondeau |
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Watershed of Nottaway River
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Nord-du-Québec |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Blondeau Lake Chibougamau, Nord-du-Québec, Quebec 416 m (1,365 ft) 49°58′11″N 74°41′50″W / 49.96972°N 74.69722°W |
| River mouth | Chibougamau Lake (via McKenzie Bay) Chibougamau, Nord-du-Québec, Quebec 379 m (1,243 ft) 49°59′17″N 74°08′41″W / 49.98806°N 74.14472°W |
| Length | 5.6 km (3.5 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Blondeau River is a small river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into Chibougamau Lake through a part called McKenzie Bay. This river is located entirely within the town of Chibougamau, in the Nord-du-Québec region.
The river's path is completely within the area known as the Roy township. You can reach the river's area by using a forest road that runs along the north side of Chibougamau Lake. This road connects to Route 167, which also goes near Waconichi Lake.
Usually, the Blondeau River is frozen from early November until mid-May. However, it's generally safe to walk or travel on the ice from mid-November to mid-April.
Contents
Exploring the Blondeau River's Journey
The Blondeau River is part of a larger network of waterways. It has several important neighbors:
- To the north: Natevier river, Waconichi Lake, and Lake Mistassini.
- To the east: Nepton River, France River, and Chief River.
- To the south: Chibougamau Lake and Armitage River.
- To the west: Natevier River and Chibougamau River.
Where the River Starts
The Blondeau River begins at the mouth of Blondeau Lake. This lake is about 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) long and sits at an altitude of 402 metres (1,319 ft). The starting point of the river is:
- About 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) northwest of where the Blondeau River joins Chibougamau Lake.
- About 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi) southeast of Waconichi Lake.
- About 38 kilometres (24 mi) south of Lake Mistassini.
- About 17.4 kilometres (10.8 mi) northeast of downtown Chibougamau.
The River's Path
From Blondeau Lake, the Blondeau River flows for about 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi). Here's how it flows:
- For the first 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi), it goes northeast in Roy Township. Here, it meets the Oreille River.
- Then, for about 4.4 kilometres (2.7 mi), it turns east and then south until it reaches its end.
The Blondeau River empties into the north shore of McKenzie Bay, which is part of Chibougamau Lake. After joining the bay, the water flows south through McKenzie Passage, which has a road bridge. Then, it continues southwest through Chibougamau Lake, going around Portage Island.
The Bigger River System
Chibougamau Lake is a very important lake because it's the main starting point for the Chibougamau River. From Chibougamau Lake, the water flows into Dorés Lake. Then, it generally travels southwest along the Chibougamau River until it meets the Opawica River.
After this meeting, the water continues southwest through the Waswanipi River to the eastern side of Goéland Lake. The Waswanipi River then crosses Goéland Lake and flows into Lake Matagami. Finally, the water from all these rivers flows along the Nottaway River and eventually empties into Rupert Bay, which is part of James Bay.
Naming the River
The name "Blondeau River" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This happened when the Commission de toponymie du Québec (Quebec's Place Names Commission) was first created.
