Opémisca River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Opémisca |
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Watershed of Nottaway River
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Nord-du-Québec |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Forested creek Eeyou Istchee Baie-James, Nord-du-Québec, Quebec 379 m (1,243 ft) 49°58′33″N 74°45′47″W / 49.97583°N 74.76306°W |
| River mouth | Chibougamau River (via Opémisca Lake) Eeyou Istchee Baie-James, Nord-du-Québec, Quebec 358 m (1,175 ft) 49°57′21″N 74°54′38″W / 49.95583°N 74.91056°W |
| Length | 39.1 km (24.3 mi) |
The Opémisca River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Chibougamau River. It's located in the Nord-du-Québec region, specifically in the Eeyou Istchee Baie-James area. The river flows through places called Cuvier and Rageot.
You can reach the river's area by a forest road. This road is on the north side of Opémisca Lake and connects to Highway 113. Highway 113 links Lebel-sur-Quévillon to Chibougamau and passes south of the lake.
The Opémisca River usually freezes over from early November to mid-May. However, it's generally safe to travel on the ice from mid-November to mid-April.
River's Path and Location
The Opémisca River starts from a small forest stream. This stream is about 379 meters (1,243 feet) above sea level. Its source is in the Cuvier area.
The river's starting point is:
- About 7.4 kilometers (4.6 miles) north of Opémisca Lake.
- About 10.8 kilometers (6.7 miles) northeast of where the Opémisca River ends.
- About 21.9 kilometers (13.6 miles) north of the town of Chapais.
- About 28.6 kilometers (17.8 miles) west of the city of Chibougamau.
The Opémisca River flows for about 39.1 kilometers (24.3 miles). Along its path, it crosses a small lake. This lake is about 1.7 kilometers (1.1 miles) long.
Where the River Flows
The Opémisca River empties into a small bay on the north shore of Opémisca Lake. This is about 0.9 kilometers (0.6 miles) west of where Leclerc Creek enters the lake.
From this point, the water flows through Opémisca Lake for about 8.3 kilometers (5.2 miles) southwest. The Chibougamau River also flows through Opémisca Lake. After that, the water continues southwest through the Chibougamau River. It then goes into the Waswanipi River and reaches Goéland Lake (Waswanipi River). The Waswanipi River then flows northwest through Goéland Lake and eventually joins Matagami Lake.
The end of the Opémisca River is located:
- About 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles) east of Mount Opémisca.
- About 8.0 kilometers (5.0 miles) northeast of where Opémisca Lake ends.
- About 20.1 kilometers (12.5 miles) northwest of the town of Chapais.
- About 39.0 kilometers (24.2 miles) southwest of downtown Chibougamau.
What's in a Name?
The name "Opémisca" comes from the Cree language. It means "the river of sandy shrubs."
The name "Opémisca River" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This happened when the Commission de toponymie du Québec (Quebec's Place Names Commission) was created.
