Magpie River (Quebec) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Magpie River
Magpie dam
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Native name	Mutehekau Hipu
Other name(s)	Rivière Magpie
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Côte-Nord
RCM	Minganie, Sept-Rivières
Physical characteristics
River mouth	Gulf of Saint Lawrence 0 metres (0 ft)
Length	200 kilometres (120 mi)
Basin features
Basin size	7,646 square kilometres (2,952 sq mi)

The Magpie River (also known as Rivière Magpie in French) is a 200 kilometer (about 124 miles) long river in Quebec, Canada. It starts on the Labrador Plateau and flows south. The river ends by emptying into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, which is part of the larger Saint Lawrence River. This area is east of the city of Sept-Îles, Quebec.

Where is the Magpie River?

The Magpie River is about 200 kilometers (124 miles) long. It begins near the border between Quebec and Labrador. From there, it flows south. The river then enters Magpie Bay, which is part of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. This bay is about 60 kilometers (37 miles) west of Havre-Saint-Pierre.

The river has two main branches that feed into it: Magpie West and Magpie East. A large part of the river's middle section flows through a long body of water called Lake Magpie. While the river itself is not very wide, its waters move quickly and can be quite rough.

The wide area where the river meets the sea is called its estuary. This estuary creates a natural harbor, which is useful for fishing boats. The small village of Magpie is located on a hillside. It sits around another small harbor in Magpie Bay. This village is about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) west of where the river meets the sea. It is one of the oldest towns along the Côte-Nord coast. People from the Gaspé Peninsula first visited this spot around 1849. They came to fish for cod and Atlantic salmon. The village grew quickly after fishing companies set up their businesses there around 1870.

What's in a Name?

The Magpie River gets its name from a bird. This bird is the Canada jay (Perisoreus canadensis). English speakers used to call this bird a "magpie."

In the 1800s, local people sometimes pronounced the river's name as "Magpointe." A map from 1870 by Eugène-Étienne Taché showed the river as "R. Magpie or La Pie." Later, in 1886, a surveyor named Saint-Cyr called it Rivière à la Pie. People also often call it simply "La Pie" as a nickname.

Another name for the river was the Girard River. This name came from three brothers named Girard. They settled in the area around 1849. The Innu people, who are the Indigenous people of the region, have several names for the river.

• Moteskikan Hipu means "abrupt," "rocky," or "difficult" river.
• Mutehekau Hipu means "river where the water passes between the square rocky cliffs."
• Pmotewsekaw Sipo means "river along which one walks among the shrubs."

River Features and Basin

The Magpie River is known for being quite challenging to travel on. From its mouth, where it meets the sea, for about 34 miles (55 kilometers) upstream, there are many waterfalls and rapids. Further upstream, there is a very deep lake called Lake Magpie. This lake is about 53 miles (85 kilometers) long. It is surrounded by capes and mountains and is known for having large pike fish.

The area of land that drains into the Magpie River is called its basin. This basin covers a large area of 7,646 square kilometers (about 2,952 square miles). The Magpie River basin is located between the basins of the Jupitagon River to the west and the Saint-Jean River to the east.

Historically, the river has been important for fishing. It has a great reputation for both Atlantic salmon and trout fishing. There was also a major cod fishing business located on its banks. The river also has strong water flow, which means it could be used to create power.

Hydroelectric Power and the Magpie River

In 2004, a company planned to build a small hydroelectric power plant on the Magpie River. This project caused protests from environmental groups. Even famous environmentalists like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke out against it.

A government agency called the Bureau of Public Hearings on the Environment (BAPE) reviewed the project. In 2004, they said the project could go ahead. However, they also said that no more development should happen on the river after that. Despite this, in August 2005, the government approved the dam's construction. This dam would remove some famous rapids on the river.

The Magpie Generating Station started working in October 2007. It was officially opened in June 2008. Later, in 2009, Hydro-Québec, a large power company, planned to build six more dams on the river. But by September 2017, the company announced they had enough power. They said they had no plans for more dams on the Magpie River at that time.

Fun on the River: Recreation

The Magpie River is a popular spot for outdoor activities. Many people enjoy white-water rafting, canoeing, and kayaking here. The lower part of the West Magpie branch offers challenging conditions. It has about 50 kilometers (31 miles) of difficult rapids for experienced kayakers. This part of the river flows into Lake Magpie.

After the river leaves Lake Magpie, it becomes easier for most recreational kayakers to handle. The first 15 kilometers (9 miles) below the lake are known for excellent fishing. The last 15 kilometers (9 miles) of the river are very scenic. They flow through huge gorges and over beautiful waterfalls.

In May 2015, the Quebec government started a special program for sport fishing. For large salmon on 16 rivers, including the Magpie, anglers had to catch and release the fish. This means they had to let the salmon go after catching them. This rule was put in place to help protect the salmon population. Some groups, like the Quebec Atlantic Salmon Federation, felt these rules were not enough. They believed catch-and-release should be required on almost all rivers to protect salmon for the future.

The Magpie River's Legal Rights

In a very important step, the Magpie River became the first river in Canada to be given legal personhood. This happened in February 2021. The local government of Minganie and the Innu Council of Ekuanitshit both passed special resolutions. This means the river now has some of the same legal rights as a person. This helps protect it from harm and ensures its health for future generations.