Peribonka River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peribonka River
Other name(s)	Rivière Péribonka
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
Physical characteristics
Main source	Unnamed wilderness Just west of the Otish Mountains 800 m (2,600 ft) 52°16′17″N 70°48′38″W / 52.27139°N 70.81056°W / 52.27139; -70.81056
River mouth	Lac Saint-Jean Town of Péribonka 99 m (325 ft) 48°44′49″N 72°06′13″W / 48.74694°N 72.10361°W / 48.74694; -72.10361
Length	451 km (280 mi)
Discharge (location 2)	Location: Peribonka Power Station Average rate: 438 m3/s (15,500 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Basin size	28,200 km2 (10,900 sq mi)
Tributaries	Left: (upstream) Adric Creek, Morel Creek, Jaune Creek, Blanche River (Péribonka River) (via Tchitogama Lake), Langelier Creek, Malek River, Du Canal Sec River, outlet of lakes St-Jacques and Demun, Manouane River (Péribonka River); Upstream of "Chute des Passes": outlet of lakes Head and Margane, À la Carpe River (via Péribonka Lake), Coucoumenen River, Bonnard River, outlet of Bausais Lake, Épervanche River, Savane River, outlet of Natipi Lake, Courtois River, Péribonka East River, outlet of Dauphin Lake, outlet of Magneron Lake. Right: (upstream) Little Péribonka River, À Michel River, Saint-Ludger River, Alex River, Little Betley River, Bernabé River, Banc de Sable River, Brûlée River (Péribonka River), outlet of Lake des Coquilles, Éternité Creek, Des Savard River, Louke River, Du Sault River (Péribonka River), Au Serpent River (Péribonka River), Sylvie Creek, Cornu Creek, Du Catcor Creek (via Péribonka Lake), Brodeuse River; Upsteam of "Chute des Passes": De l'Épinette Rouge Creek, Saint-Onge River, outlet of lake Allenou, De la Grande Loutre River, outlet of lake Croche, outlet of lake Culotte, outlet of lake du Cœur.

The Peribonka River (French: Rivière Péribonka) is a long river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into Lac Saint-Jean near the town of Péribonka. This river is about 451 kilometers (280 miles) long. It's the biggest river that flows into Lac Saint-Jean.

The area around the Peribonka River is important for a few reasons:

• Forestry: Cutting down trees and processing wood is the main business here.
• Tourism: People visit for fun activities like fishing or boating.
• Hydroelectricity: The river's power is used to make electricity.

The river usually freezes over from late November to early April. It's often safe to travel on the ice from mid-December to late March.

Where Does the Peribonka River Flow?

The Peribonka River starts in a swampy area west of the Otish Mountains. This area is part of the Canadian Shield, which is a huge rocky region. From its source, the river flows south. For some of its journey, it forms the border between two regional areas: Maria-Chapdelaine and Le Fjord-du-Saguenay.

The river's basin, which is the land area that drains into it, covers about 28,200 square kilometers (10,888 square miles). This is about one-third of the entire Saguenay River basin.

The River's Journey from Source to Mouth

The Peribonka River travels a long way through forests. Here's a simplified look at its journey:

Upper Course: Starting Point

The river begins from a small, unnamed lake near the Otish Mountains. It flows mostly south and southeast. Along this part of its journey, it collects water from other rivers like the Péribonka East River and the Savane River. It also flows through Onistagane Lake, a large lake that is about 24 kilometers (15 miles) long.

Middle Course: Through Lakes and Forests

After Onistagane Lake, the river continues south. This section passes through the Proposed Lake Onistagane Biodiversity Reserve, an important area for nature. It collects water from rivers like the Bonnard River and the Brodeuse River. A significant part of this section involves flowing through Péribonka Lake, which is a very large lake, about 59 kilometers (37 miles) long. This lake is fed by the Carpe River.

Further downstream, the river passes the mouth of the Manouane River, another major tributary. It also collects water from the Sault River and the Malek River.

Lower Course: Nearing Lac Saint-Jean

As the Peribonka River gets closer to its end, it flows through areas with wetlands. It collects water from many smaller rivers and streams, including the Bernabé river, Belley River, Alex River, and Michel River.

Finally, the river reaches Sainte-Monique and then flows past the village of Péribonka. It then empties into Lac Saint-Jean. The river's mouth is partly blocked by Île Bouliane. From Lac Saint-Jean, the water eventually flows into the Saguenay River and then into the St. Lawrence River.

Main Rivers Joining the Peribonka

Many rivers and streams flow into the Peribonka. Some of the most important ones are (listed from closest to Lac Saint-Jean, going upstream):

• Little Péribonka River
• Alex River
• Brûlée River
• Manouane River (which has its own branches like the Manouaniche River and Alma River)
• Serpent River
• Brodeuse River
• Carpe River (flows into Péribonka Lake)
• Saint-Onge River
• Cocoumenen River
• Bonnard River
• Grande Loutre River
• Épervanche River
• Péribonka East River

History of the Peribonka River

The Peribonka River has a rich history, especially for the people who have lived along its banks for centuries.

Early Inhabitants and Explorers

For a very long time, the Innu indigenous people lived in this area. They used canoes to travel the river for fishing and hunting.

Europeans started using the river in the late 1600s. It was a way to reach James Bay. The first official mention of the river was on April 16, 1679. A priest named François de Crespieul baptized two children "near the Peribouka river at Lake Peokouagami" (which was an old name for Lac Saint-Jean). Later that year, Louis Jolliet, a famous Canadian explorer, traveled this route and called it Périboca on his map. Over time, the spelling changed to Periboaka, Periboac, and finally Péribonka, which is what we use today.

Logging and Settlement

In the 17th and 18th centuries, not many trappers or traders used the Peribonka. But in the 1800s, the river became more important. Logging camps were set up, and the river was used to float logs downstream to sawmills. In 1887, the first settlers started to build homes near the river's mouth.

Modern Development: Dams and Power

In 1928, the Peribonka River flooded several villages. Despite this, the region continued to grow. In the 1940s, a big aluminum company called Alcan needed a lot of electricity. So, they built dams on the river to create hydroelectric power.

• From 1941 to 1943, the Chute-des-Passes Dam was built at the south end of Péribonka Lake. This turned the lake into a huge reservoir.
• Two more dams were built downstream in the 1950s: the Chute-du-Diable (1950-1952) and Chute-à-la-Savane (1951-1953).

The famous French novel Maria Chapdelaine by Louis Hémon is set along the shores of the Peribonka River.

Getting to the Peribonka River

You can reach the lower part of the Peribonka River by road. Route 169 runs along the north bank of the river, between its mouth and the village of Sainte-Monique. Other forest roads, like Route Uniforêt and Chemin Price Brothers, also provide access to different parts of the river valley.

What Does the Name "Peribonka" Mean?

The name "Peribonka" comes from the Montagnais language, spoken by the Innu people. The word pelipaukau means "river digging through the sand" or "where there is moving sand." This name perfectly describes parts of the river where the current moves sand along its bed.