Ouananiche River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ouananiche River |
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|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean |
| MRC | Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality |
| TNO or Municipality | Roberval |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Brassard Lake Roberval 301 m (988 ft) 48°27′41″N 72°17′13″W / 48.46139°N 72.28694°W |
| River mouth | Lac Saint-Jean Roberval 101 m (331 ft) 48°27′35″N 72°11′06″W / 48.45972°N 72.18500°W |
| Length | 10.8 km (6.7 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Lac Saint-Jean, Saguenay River |
| Tributaries |
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The Ouananiche River is a small river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into Lac Saint-Jean, a large lake in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region. The river runs through the town of Roberval.
People use roads like chemin du 4e rang and route 169 to get around the river valley. Most of the area around the river is used for forestry, which means cutting down trees. Closer to the lake, some farming also takes place.
The Ouananiche River usually freezes over from early December to late March. However, it's generally safe to be on the ice from mid-December to mid-March.
Contents
Where the River Starts and Ends
The Ouananiche River begins at a small body of water called Lac Brassard. This lake is shaped a bit like a birch leaf. Lac Brassard is about 375 meters (0.23 miles) long. It sits at an elevation of 291 meters (955 feet) above sea level.
From Lac Brassard, the river flows for about 10.8 kilometers (6.7 miles). During its journey, the river drops about 200 meters (656 feet) in elevation.
The River's Journey
The Ouananiche River flows in a few different directions as it makes its way to Lac Saint-Jean:
- First, it goes southeast for about 3.6 kilometers (2.2 miles). Along this part, it collects water from Lac du Quatre and two other small lakes.
- Then, it turns northeast for about 3.2 kilometers (2 miles).
- Finally, it flows east and then northeast for about 4.0 kilometers (2.5 miles). In this last section, the river winds a lot through farm fields. It also crosses Route 169 before reaching its mouth.
Where it Joins Lac Saint-Jean
The Ouananiche River empties into a small bay on the southwest side of Lac Saint-Jean. This meeting point is about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) west of a place called Anse de Chambord. It's also about 6.0 kilometers (3.7 miles) southeast of downtown Roberval.
After joining Lac Saint-Jean, the river's water travels across the lake for about 33.6 kilometers (20.9 miles). Then, it flows into the Saguenay River. The Saguenay River carries the water for another 172.3 kilometers (107.1 miles) east to Tadoussac. There, it finally joins the Estuary of Saint Lawrence, which leads to the Atlantic Ocean.
What "Ouananiche" Means
The word Ouananiche refers to a type of freshwater salmon. This kind of salmon lives in lakes and rivers in the northeastern United States, Ontario, other parts of Canada, and Quebec. It's also known as landlocked salmon because it lives its whole life in fresh water and doesn't go to the ocean.
The name "Ouananiche River" was officially given on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is a group that names places in Quebec.
