Nipissis River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nipissis River
Native name	Rivière Nipissis
Country	Canada
Region	Côte-Nord
Physical characteristics
Main source	Lacs Siamois 51°21′43″N 65°51′30″W / 51.3619°N 65.8583°W / 51.3619; -65.8583
River mouth	Moisie River 50°29′35″N 66°05′48″W / 50.493°N 66.0967°W / 50.493; -66.0967
Length	65 kilometres (40 mi)
Basin features
Basin size	4,196 square kilometres (1,620 sq mi)

The Nipissis River (also called Rivière Nipissis in French) is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Moisie River. This river is famous for its salmon and its tall, steep cliffs. These cliffs are a great place for ice climbing!

Where is the Nipissis River?

The Nipissis River is found in a part of Quebec called Rivière-Nipissis. This area is not organized into towns or cities.

The Nipissis River is about 65 kilometres (40 mi) long. It starts in the Siamois lakes. Then, it flows into the Moisie River, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) from where the Moisie River meets the sea.

Other smaller rivers flow into the Nipissis. These are called tributaries.

• The Wacouno River joins the Nipissis from the west.
• The Nipisso River joins the Nipissis about 20 kilometres (12 mi) before it reaches the Moisie River.
• The McDonald River also joins the Nipissis near a waterfall called Chute McDonald.

The Nipissis River drains a large area of 4,196 square kilometres (1,620 sq mi). This makes it the most important river that flows into the Moisie River.

What Does the Name "Nipissis" Mean?

The name "Nipissis" has an interesting history. In 1699, an explorer named Jean-Baptiste-Louis Franquelin called it the Petit Saguenay.

Later, during the time of the Moisie-Salmon-Club, a part of the Nipissis River was called the Moisie East Branch. This was the section between the Moisie River and the McDonald Falls.

The name "Nipissis" was first used by a surveyor named Vincent in 1892. People believe the name comes from the Innu language. It might mean "small sheet of water" or "small stream."

Fishing for Salmon

The Nipissis River is a great place for Atlantic salmon. These amazing fish can swim upstream past the McDonald Falls. They can even reach the Togas Falls, which are about 65 kilometres (40 mi) from the river's mouth.

To help the salmon, a special "fish ladder" was built at McDonald Falls in 1975. This ladder makes it easier for the salmon to swim past the falls.

In 2019, the Uashat mak Mani-Utenam band took over a fishing camp called Moisie-Nipissis. This camp is located where the Nipissis River meets the Moisie River. It includes 16 special spots for salmon fishing. The government of Quebec helped the Innu buy this camp.

Ice Climbing Adventures

The Nipissis River area is famous for ice climbing. In 1994, an adventurer named Patrice Beaudet discovered many amazing ice climbing spots here.

The river's banks have many cliffs that are over 200 metres (660 ft) tall. About 30 of these spots are perfect for ice climbing. One area, called "mur du 51" by railway workers, has many cliffs and frozen waterfalls. Beaudet has climbed some challenging routes there, like Le Filon and Le Chercheur D'or.

It can be tricky to get to this area. You can take a train or a helicopter from Sept-Îles. The Tshiuetin Rail Transportation train can drop off and pick up climbers. In winter, the Nipissis River freezes over, making it easier to travel and camp. However, the ice can sometimes break, so it's important to be careful.

The Railway and the River

The Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway runs along the Moisie River valley. It then follows the Nipissis River for a while.

In 2019, a group called the Moisie River Protection Association (MRPA) asked scientists to study the railway's effects on salmon eggs. They want to know if the vibrations from the trains harm the salmon eggs in the Nipissis River. About 12 trains pass through the valley each day.

Lakes in the Nipissis River Area

Many lakes are part of the Nipissis River's watershed (the area of land that drains into the river). Here are some of them: