Maccan River (Anticosti Island) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maccan River |
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Côte-Nord |
| RCM | Minganie |
| Island | Anticosti Island |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Mountain stream L'Île-d'Anticosti 205 m (673 ft) 49°18′48″N 62°34′58″W / 49.31332°N 62.58288°W |
| River mouth | Gulf of Saint Lawrence L'Île-d'Anticosti 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) 49°08′47″N 2°38′52″W / 49.14639°N 2.64778°W |
| Length | 23.3 km (14.5 mi) |
The Maccan River is a river located on Anticosti Island in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Anticosti Island is part of the Minganie Regional County Municipality in the Côte-Nord region. A forest road runs along the river's valley, helping people get to the area for activities like logging and outdoor fun.
Contents
River's Journey: Where the Maccan River Flows
The Maccan River starts as a small stream in a forest. This starting point is about 205 meters (673 feet) above sea level. It's in the east-central part of Anticosti Island.
River's Source Location
The source of the Maccan River is found:
- About 69.2 kilometers (43 miles) west of Heath Point, which is the eastern tip of the island.
- About 20.2 kilometers (12.5 miles) north of the southern coast of Anticosti Island.
- About 23.5 kilometers (14.6 miles) south of the northern coast of Anticosti Island.
- About 139.7 kilometers (86.8 miles) east of Port-Menier, the main village on the island.
River's Path to the Sea
From its source, the Maccan River flows generally south. It runs between the Petite rivière de la Chaloupe to the east and the Ferrée River to the west. The river travels about 23.3 kilometers (14.5 miles) in total. During its journey, the river drops about 204 meters (669 feet) in height.
The river's path includes two main parts:
- For the first 17.3 kilometers (10.7 miles), it flows southwest, then turns south. Along this part, it collects water from several smaller streams.
- For the last 6.0 kilometers (3.7 miles), it continues south, curving southeast. It passes through marshy areas near the southern coast of the island.
Where the River Ends
The Maccan River empties into a marshy area on the south shore of Anticosti Island. This is where it joins the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. This meeting point is west of Pointe Bilodeau.
The mouth of the river is located:
- About 3.0 kilometers (1.9 miles) west of where the Bilodeau River flows into the gulf.
- About 4.8 kilometers (3.0 miles) east of the mouth of the Ferrée River.
- About 144.4 kilometers (89.7 miles) east of the center of Port-Menier village.
River's Name: The Story of "Maccan"
The name "Maccan River" has been used for a long time. It was mentioned in a geography bulletin in 1924. It also appeared in a book about Anticosti Island written by Joseph Schmitt in 1904.
The name "rivière Maccan" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is the official body for place names in Quebec.
