Cyriac River facts for kids

The Cyriac River is a freshwater river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into Kenogami Lake. The river is about 57.2 km (35.5 mi) long.

It flows through the unorganized territory of Lac-Pikauba and Lac-Ministuk. The Cyriac River also runs through the beautiful Laurentides Wildlife Reserve.

The area around the river is mainly used for forestry (cutting down trees). It is also popular for recreational tourism, like hiking or fishing. The river is easy to reach because Route 175 runs nearby. Other smaller forest roads help people get around for logging and fun activities.

The Cyriac River usually freezes over from late November to early April. It is generally safe to walk on the ice from mid-December to late March.

Where the Cyriac River Flows

The Cyriac River starts at Pikauba Lake. This lake is quite large, about 12.2 km (7.6 mi) long and 1.9 km (1.2 mi) wide. It sits high up in the mountains, at an altitude of 827 m (2,713 ft).

Pikauba Lake has two main outlets. The Cyriac River flows north from the lake. The Pikauba River flows southeast from the lake, where there is also a dam.

The northern end of Pikauba Lake is:

• 6.4 km (4.0 mi) north of the lake's second outlet.
• 10.7 km (6.6 mi) north-east of Route 175.
• 51.8 km (32.2 mi) south-east of where the Cyriac River joins Kenogami Lake.

From Pikauba Lake, the Cyriac River generally flows northwest. It drops about 663 m (2,175 ft) in elevation along its path. The river flows entirely through forest areas.

The River's Journey

The Cyriac River's journey can be split into two main parts:

Upper Course

The first part of the river's journey is about 23.0 km (14.3 mi) long.

• It starts by flowing northwest, making a small loop to the east.
• It then winds its way northwest, passing through Lake Muy.
• Along this section, it collects water from streams like Hay Stream and Beaver Creek.
• It also picks up water from Lake Sims and Vermette Stream.
• For about 14.9 km (9.3 mi), it flows alongside Route 175. It crosses a forest road called R0287 before meeting the Gilbert River.

Lower Course

The second part of the river's journey is about 34.2 km (21.3 mi) long.

• It flows north, passing by a group of lakes including Petit Lac Cyriac.
• It continues north, sometimes zigzagging, and runs alongside forest road R0215.
• It then turns west to meet the Normand River.
• After that, it flows northwest, collecting water from Hector Stream.
• It forms a hook towards the northeast and runs along the edge of the city of Saguenay.
• It then meets the Jean-Boivin River.
• Finally, it flows north through a deep valley, still along the western edge of Saguenay, until it reaches its mouth.

Where the River Ends

The Cyriac River flows into the south shore of Kenogami Lake. It enters the lake across from Île Verte (Green Island).

This meeting point is located:

• 4.9 km (3.0 mi) west of where the Simoncouche River joins Kenogami Lake.
• 5.4 km (3.4 mi) north-west of Route 175.
• 6.1 km (3.8 mi) south-west of the Portage-des-Roches dam.
• 12.9 km (8.0 mi) south of the Jonquière area of Saguenay.

From Kenogami Lake, the water flows northeast for 6.3 km (3.9 mi) to the Portage-des-Roches dam. Then, it follows the Chicoutimi River for 26.2 km (16.3 mi) to the east and northeast. After that, it joins the Saguenay River for 114.6 km (71.2 mi) to the east. Finally, it reaches Tadoussac and merges with the Saint Lawrence Estuary.

Name of the River

The name "Cyriac River" was given in honor of Cyriac Buckell. He was a German settler and trapper. He was the very first settler to live on the banks of this river, right where it meets the lake.

The name "Cyriac River" became official on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a special committee that names places in Quebec.

Related Articles

• Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality
• Laurentides Wildlife Reserve
• Jean-Boivin River
• Gilbert River
• Kenogami Lake
• Chicoutimi River
• Saguenay River
• St. Lawrence River
• List of rivers of Quebec