Plantain River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plantain River |
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|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Côte-Nord |
| Regional County Municipality | Minganie Regional County Municipality |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lake Supérieur L'Île-d'Anticosti 68 m (223 ft) 49°53′21″N 64°22′41″W / 49.88930°N 64.37813°W |
| River mouth | Gulf of Saint Lawrence L'Île-d'Anticosti] 1 m (3.3 ft) 49°49′51″N 64°22′41″W / 49.83083°N 64.37806°W |
| Length | 8.5 km (5.3 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Plantain River (French: Rivière Plantain) is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. You can find this river on Anticosti Island, which is part of the Minganie Regional County Municipality in the Côte-Nord region.
The Plantain River is special because it's the river furthest to the west on Anticosti Island.
Contents
River's Journey: Where it Starts and Flows
The Plantain River begins at a place called Lake Superior. This lake is about 1.5 km (0.93 mi) long and sits 34 m (112 ft) above sea level. It's located at the very western end of Anticosti Island.
The start of the Plantain River, where it leaves Lake Superior, is found:
- 10.8 km (6.7 mi) northeast of the western tip of Anticosti Island (Pointe-Ouest).
- 7.1 km (4.4 mi) northwest of the main village, Port-Menier.
- 3.8 km (2.4 mi) southeast of the island's northern shore.
From Lake Superior, the Plantain River flows south. It runs between the western end of Anticosti Island and the Gamache River, which is to its east.
How the River Flows
The Plantain River travels about 8.5 km (5.3 mi) south from Lake Superior. During its journey, the river drops about 33 m (108 ft) in height.
Here's how its path unfolds:
- For the first 5.0 km (3.1 mi), it flows southwest, then turns southeast. It goes through Plantain Lake, which is 3.1 km (1.9 mi) long and 28 m (92 ft) above sea level.
- After Plantain Lake, it continues for 3.5 km (2.2 mi) towards the southeast. Along this part, it crosses marshy areas and collects water from a small stream called Diane.
Where the River Ends
The Plantain River eventually empties into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. It flows into a spot called Jolliet Bay. This bay is about 1.1 km (0.68 mi) wide at its entrance. Jolliet Bay is actually a smaller part of a larger area called Gamache Bay. Gamache Bay is 5.7 km (3.5 mi) long and 4.2 km (2.6 mi) wide at its entrance, located on the south shore of Anticosti Island.
When the tide is low, the sandy area at the mouth of the Plantain River can stretch out as far as 1.8 km (1.1 mi) into the bay.
The point where the Plantain River meets the bay is:
- 11.0 km (6.8 mi) east of Pointe-Ouest, the western tip of Anticosti Island.
- 10.7 km (6.6 mi) southeast of the island's north shore.
- 2.4 km (1.5 mi) west of the center of the village of Port-Menier.
Gamache Bay includes both Jolliet Bay (to the northwest) and Navots Bay (to the northeast).
River's Name: Plantain
The name "Plantain River" (Rivière Plantain in French) was first seen in a book published in 1904. It also appeared in a geography bulletin in Quebec in 1924.
The name "Rivière Plantain" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968.
