Kipawa River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kipawa River |
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Kipawa River during low water level, as seen from the Laniel Dam
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| Other name(s) | Rivière Kipawa |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Abitibi-Témiscamingue |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Upper/Lac Dumoine Lower/Lake Kipawa 318 m (1,043 ft) 46°57′43″N 78°01′27″W / 46.96194°N 78.02417°W |
| River mouth | Ottawa River Lake Timiskaming 180 m (590 ft) 47°03′00″N 79°23′14″W / 47.05000°N 79.38722°W |
| Length | 180 km (110 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Ottawa River→ Saint Lawrence River→ Gulf of Saint Lawrence |
| River system | Ottawa River drainage basin |
The Kipawa River (in French: Rivière Kipawa) is a short river in western Quebec, Canada. It flows through a mostly wild area, but some of its bigger lakes have dams, fishing spots, and cabins. The towns of Kipawa and Laniel are located on Lake Kipawa. Many trees are cut down in the area around the river, so there are lots of logging roads. Route 101 crosses the river at Laniel.
The river drops a lot (about 90 meters or 295 feet) in its last 16 kilometers (10 miles) from Lake Kipawa to where it ends. This creates many whitewater rapids, making it a favorite spot for kayakers and canoeists. Since 1986, the Kipawa River Rally has been held here every year.
Its name comes from the Anishnabe word "Kebaouek." This means "at the narrows beyond which more water opens out."
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Lakes Along the Kipawa River
Here are some important lakes along the river, listed from upstream to downstream:
- Grassy Lake (Lac aux Foins)
- Watson Lake
- Wolf Lake (Lac des Loups)
- Lac Sairs
- Grindstone Lake
- Hunter Lake
- Lake Kipawa
Rivers Flowing into the Kipawa
These are some of the main rivers that flow into the Kipawa River:
- Audoin River
- Rivière des Lacs
History of the Kipawa River
The first mention of the Kipawa River was in the early 1800s. A Catholic priest used it to travel upstream and build a mission for the Algonquin Native Americans on Lake Kipawa. In 1910, the Laniel Dam was built at the end of Lake Kipawa. It had a special gate designed to help float logs from Lake Kipawa down to the Ottawa River.
The first time someone recorded paddling the whitewater sections of the Kipawa was in 1971. Jose Mediavilla and Joseph Jacob from Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, paddled down the river in an open canoe. Mediavilla kept paddling the river over the years. By 1976, he was using it for the practice part of his whitewater certification courses.
The Kipawa River has hosted the Kipawa River Rally since 1985. This event usually happens around the St. Jean-Baptiste Holiday in Quebec. It is one of the longest-running recreational paddling festivals in northeastern North America.
In 2007, the Laniel Dam needed to be rebuilt. It had to be strong enough to handle a very big flood, like one that might happen only once every 1000 years. After the dam was rebuilt, people were no longer allowed to paddle through its gates. A group called Les Amis de la rivière Kipawa (Friends of the Kipawa River) tried to challenge this decision in court. They argued that paddling through the dam's gate was safe and important. However, the courts did not agree with them.
Today, the Kipawa River faces a new challenge. There are plans to build hydroelectric power plants on the river. These projects would change the river's natural flow. One project, called TABARET, is proposed by Hydro-Québec. Another is from Innergex, working with the Algonquin First Nations from Wolf Lake.
Images for kids
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A raft from Esprit Rafting Company going down the Laniel Dam during the Kipawa River Rally.
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Skilled kayaker Sadia Loney paddling down the sluiceway of the Laniel Dam.
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The dam being rebuilt in 2007. After this, people could no longer paddle through the dam.
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A fence was put up to stop kayaks and rafts from going down the dam's chute, which used to be a common practice.
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A sign saying "Long live the free Kipawa." People were worried about how much water would be left in the river after the dam was rebuilt.
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Hollywood Rapid when the water level is low.
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The Kipawa River Rally brings many visitors and helps the economy in Laniel.
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The Kipawa River Lodge at the mouth of the Kipawa River. This lodge was used in the movie The Silent Enemy.
