Matawawaskweyau River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matawawaskweyau |
|
|---|---|
Watershed of Nottaway River
|
|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Eeyou Istchee Baie-James (municipality) |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Confluence of Kachishewechuch creek Eeyou Istchee Baie-James (municipality), Nord-du-Québec, Quebec 243 m (797 ft) 50°40′42″N 77°36′20″W / 50.67833°N 77.60556°W |
| River mouth | Pauschikushish Ewiwach River Eeyou Istchee Baie-James (municipality), Nord-du-Québec, Quebec 243 m (797 ft) 50°41′25″N 77°30′36″W / 50.69028°N 77.51000°W |
| Length | 9.9 km (6.2 mi) |
The Matawawaskweyau River is a small river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Pauschikushish Ewiwach River. This area is part of the Eeyou Istchee Baie-James (municipality) in the Nord-du-Québec region.
The river's surface is usually frozen from early November until mid-May. However, it's safest to travel on the ice from mid-November to mid-April. A road called the Northern Highway helps people get close to the river, about 1.3 km (0.8 mi) from where it starts.
Contents
Where is the Matawawaskweyau River?
The Matawawaskweyau River is surrounded by other rivers and lakes. Knowing these helps us understand its location.
- To the North: Kapitastikweyach Creek, Desorsons Lake, Kauskatitineu River, and Utamikaneu River.
- To the East: Pauschikushish Ewiwach River, Kapisaukanew Creek, Dana Lake (Eeyou Istchee Baie-James), and Lake Evans (Quebec).
- To the South: Kauskatistin Creek, Nottaway River, and Soscumica Lake.
- To the West: Dusaux Lake, Nottaway River, and Davoust River.
Where the River Starts
The Matawawaskweyau River begins where Kaochishewechuch Creek joins it. This spot is about 302 meters (991 ft) above sea level.
It's located:
- 2.0 km (1.2 mi) northwest of Waseyapiskatinach Hill.
- 32.5 km (20.2 mi) southwest of Lake Evans (Quebec).
- 7.6 km (4.7 mi) southwest of the Matawawaskweyau River's mouth.
- 18.6 km (11.6 mi) southwest of the Pauschikushish Ewiwach River's mouth.
- 42.3 km (26.3 mi) southeast of Dana Lake (Eeyou Istchee Baie-James)'s mouth.
- 101.5 km (63.1 mi) north of downtown Matagami.
How the River Flows
From its starting point, the Matawawaskweyau River flows for about 9.9 km (6.2 mi).
- For the first 5.1 km (3.2 mi), it flows eastward, mostly through marshy areas.
- Then, for another 4.8 km (3.0 mi), it continues eastward through marshes until it reaches its mouth.
The Matawawaskweyau River joins the north side of the Pauschikushish Ewiwach River. From there, the water flows northeast into Dana Lake (Eeyou Istchee Baie-James), which then empties into a bay on the west side of Lake Evans (Quebec).
Where the River Ends
The mouth (end) of the Matawawaskweyau River is located:
- 11.4 km (7.1 mi) southwest of its own mouth (this seems like a typo in the original text, likely meant another river).
- 35.6 km (22.1 mi) southwest of the mouth of Dana Lake (Eeyou Istchee Baie-James).
- 59.6 km (37.0 mi) southwest of the mouth of Lake Evans (Quebec).
- 40.1 km (24.9 mi) north of Soscumica Lake.
- 117.6 km (73.1 mi) southeast of the mouth of the Broadback River.
- 103.6 km (64.4 mi) north of downtown Matagami.
What Does the Name Mean?
The name "Matawawaskweyau River" comes from the Cree language. It means "the river where we find rocks of many forms."
The name "rivière Matawawaskweyau" was officially recognized on April 7, 1983, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec (Quebec Toponymy Commission).
