Grand Portage South-West River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grand Portage South-West River |
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|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean |
| Regional County Municipality | Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Hary lake Lac-Ashuapmushuan 569 m (1,867 ft) 48°46′46″N 73°33′11″W / 48.77944°N 73.55306°W |
| River mouth | Rivière du Grand Portage Lac-Ashuapmushuan (unorganized territory) 430 m (1,410 ft) 48°52′06″N 73°29′02″W / 48.86833°N 73.48389°W |
| Length | 17.7 km (11.0 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Chigoubiche River, Ashuapmushuan River, Lac Saint-Jean, Saguenay River |
| Tributaries |
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The Grand Portage South-West River (in French, rivière du Grand Portage Sud-Ouest) is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the rivière du Grand Portage. This river is located in a special area called the unorganized territory of Lac-Ashuapmushuan. This area is part of the Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region.
The main activity in the river's valley is forestry, which means cutting down trees for wood. People also enjoy recreational tourism here. This is because the river is close to the Ashuapmushuan Wildlife Reserve, a great place for outdoor activities. A forest road, R0204, helps people get around the valley.
Contents
Where the River Flows
The Grand Portage South-West River starts from a lake called Lake Hary. This lake is about 0.7 km (0.43 mi) long and sits at an altitude of 569 m (1,867 ft) (about 1,867 feet).
River's Starting Point
Lake Hary is in a mountainous area within the Lac-Ashuapmushuan unorganized territory. It is located:
- About 0.4 km (0.25 mi) east of forest road R024.
- About 5.5 km (3.4 mi) east of the main rivière du Grand Portage.
- About 27 km (17 mi) southwest of the old Frigon station. This was a stop on the Canadian National Railway line.
- About 41.3 km (25.7 mi) southwest of the Ashuapmushuan River.
The River's Journey
From Lake Hary, the Grand Portage South-West River flows for about 17.7 km (11.0 mi) (about 11 miles). As it flows, it drops about 139 m (456 ft) (about 456 feet) in elevation. The entire journey is through thick forest areas.
Here's how the river flows:
- For the first 7.8 km (4.8 mi), it flows north. It passes through Lake Odile, which is 3.5 km (2.2 mi) long and has an altitude of 561 m (1,841 ft).
- Then, for about 2.9 km (1.8 mi), it turns east. It goes through the north side of a mountain that is 640 m (2,100 ft) high. Along this part, it collects water from several smaller lakes.
- Finally, for the last 7.0 km (4.3 mi), it flows north again. This part of the valley can be quite steep. It collects water from two more streams, one from the southeast and one from the east. The river makes some irregular turns and crosses the forest road R0204 before reaching its mouth.
Where the River Ends
The Grand Portage South-West River flows into the south bank of the rivière du Grand Portage. This meeting point is located:
- About 13.5 km (8.4 mi) southeast of where the Grand Portage river itself ends.
- About 32.0 km (19.9 mi) southwest of the mouth of the Chigoubiche River.
- About 80.1 km (49.8 mi) west of the city of Saint-Félicien.
From this point, the water from the Grand Portage South-West River travels a long way:
- It flows down the Grand Portage river for 24.8 km (15.4 mi).
- Then, it joins the Chigoubiche river for 46.2 km (28.7 mi).
- Next, it flows along the Ashuapmushuan River for 59.8 km (37.2 mi).
- After that, it crosses the entire Lac Saint-Jean eastward for 41.1 km (25.5 mi).
- Finally, it follows the Saguenay River via la Petite Décharge for 172.3 km (107.1 mi) east. This journey ends at Tadoussac, where the water meets the huge estuary of Saint Lawrence.
What's in a Name?
The word "toponymy" means the study of place names. The name "rivière du Grand Portage Sud-Ouest" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This happened at the Place Names Bank of the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a special office that keeps track of all the official names for places in Quebec.
