Ouiatchouan River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ouiatchouan River |
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|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean |
| MRC | Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lac des Commissaires Lac-Bouchette 331 m (1,086 ft) 48°12′12″N 72°14′32″W / 48.20333°N 72.24222°W |
| River mouth | Lac Saint-Jean Chambord 101 m (331 ft) 48°26′53″N 72°09′33″W / 48.44806°N 72.15917°W |
| Length | 35 km (22 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Lac Saint-Jean, Saguenay River |
| Tributaries |
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The Ouiatchouan River (say wee-ah-choo-ahn) is a cool river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into a big lake called Lac Saint-Jean. You can find it in the Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality area.
This river is important for the local forests, as logging is a main activity here. The river's surface usually freezes from early December to late March. However, it's generally safe to walk on the ice from mid-December to mid-March.
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Where Does the Ouiatchouan River Start?
The Ouiatchouan River is about 25 km (16 mi) (15.5 miles) long. It starts from three lakes: Ouiatchouan Lake, Bouchette Lake, and Lac des Commissaires.
The water first flows from Lac des Commissaires into Bouchette Lake. Then, Bouchette Lake connects to Ouiatchouan Lake through a small channel.
How Does the River Flow?
The Ouiatchouan River flows north from Ouiatchouan Lake. It starts in the area of Lac-Bouchette.
As the river continues its journey north, it picks up water from smaller streams. For example, it gets water from the Petite Rivière de la Savane on its east side. Further along, it also receives water from the Little Ballantyne River on its west side.
The river then turns east and flows through several exciting rapids. These include the Islet Rapids, Ballantyne Rapids, and Devil's Rapids.
When the river reaches the town of Chambord, it passes more obstacles. You'll find the Pine Rapid and the Grand Rapids.
The Ouiatchouan Waterfall
One of the most amazing parts of the river is the Ouiatchouan Waterfall. These majestic falls are located in the historic village of Val Jalbert. After tumbling over these falls, the river's water flows into a small bay on the south side of Lac Saint-Jean.
The Ouiatchouan River travels about 28 km (17 mi) (17.4 miles) north before it reaches Lac Saint-Jean. Most of the river flows through wooded areas. However, the last two kilometers (about 1.2 miles) of its path are through farmland.
Using the River for Power
Around the early 2010s, there was a plan to use the Ouiatchouan River to make electricity. This is called a hydroelectric project.
This idea caused a lot of discussion. Some people wanted to build the project to create clean energy. Others wanted to protect the river and its natural beauty, arguing against changing it for power.
What Does the Name Mean?
The name "rivière Ouiatchouan" became official on December 5, 1968. This was when the Commission de toponymie du Québec (Quebec's Place Names Commission) was created. They are in charge of naming places in Quebec.
