Cascouia River facts for kids

The Cascouia River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into Kenogami Lake. The river runs through the area of Larouche and the city of Saguenay. This region is called Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean.

The Cascouia river valley is a popular spot. People use Route 169 to get there. There are also smaller forest roads. These roads are used for logging and for fun activities like tourism.

Many people visit Cascouia Bay for holidays. This is the main economic activity. Making electricity from water (hydroelectric power) is also important. Logging is another key activity in the area.

The Cascouia River usually freezes over in early December. It stays frozen until the end of March. It's generally safe to walk or play on the ice from mid-December to mid-March.

About the Cascouia River

In the early 1900s, the water level of Kenogami Lake rose a lot. This caused Cascouia Bay to grow bigger. It covered parts of the old Cascouia River. Now, Cascouia Bay acts like a wide part of the lake. The Cascouia River itself is located in the former area of Lac-Kénogami.

Where the River Starts

The Cascouia River begins in a small lake. This lake is shaped like a "V". It is about 0.7 kilometers (0.4 miles) long. The lake is 207 meters (679 feet) above sea level.

This starting point is:

• 2.9 km (1.8 mi) southwest of Larouche village.
• 3.1 km (1.9 mi) northwest of Cascouia Bay.
• 10.3 km (6.4 mi) south of the Saguenay River.

The River's Journey

From its source, the Cascouia River flows for about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles). It drops 57 meters (187 feet) in height. The river flows through a forest area.

Here's how it flows:

• It goes 4.0 km (2.5 mi) southeast. It crosses what is now Camp Lake for 1.3 km (0.8 mi).
• Then it flows 3.5 km (2.2 mi) southeast through Cascouia Bay.
• Finally, it travels 4.6 km (2.9 mi) southeast through the Cascouia pass. This leads to where the river naturally joins the lake.

The old path of the Cascouia River used to flow into Epiphanes Bay. This was on the north side of Kenogami Lake. But dams were built on the Kenogami River. Because of these dams, much of the old river path is now under the lake's water.

From the mouth of the Cascouia River, the water flows through Kenogami Lake for 19.1 km (11.9 mi) to the east. Then, it follows the Chicoutimi River for 26.2 km (16.3 mi). After that, it joins the Saguenay River. The Saguenay River flows for 114.6 km (71.2 mi) east to Tadoussac. There, it meets the Saint Lawrence estuary.

Nearby Rivers and Lakes

Many other rivers and lakes are close to the Cascouia River. These are part of the same water system.

• North: Chamois Lake, Potvin Lake, Bruyère River, Dorval River.
• East: Kenogami Lake, Rivière aux Sables, Chicoutimi River.
• South: Kenogami Lake, Pikauba River.
• West: Vert Lake, Rivière des Aulnaies, La Belle Rivière.

The Name of the River

Cascouia Bay is often called "Lac Cascouia" (Cascouia Lake). This is because it feels separate from the main part of Kenogami Lake.

The name "Cascaouia" comes from the Innu language. Joseph-Laurent Normandin, a surveyor, wrote about it in 1732. He noted that Indigenous people called a large bay "Les Gachek8illaces de Quinongamingue." He also used "Baye des Gachek8illasses."

Over time, the name changed to be easier to say. It comes from an Indigenous word meaning "grasslands" or "rushes." Some people think it means "cattails." You might see the name spelled in different ways, like Kascouia or Kaskouia.

The name "rivière Cascouia" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which names places in Quebec.