Rivière Franquelin Branche Ouest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rivière Franquelin Branche Ouest |
|
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Côte-Nord |
| MRC | Manicouagan Regional County Municipality |
| Unorganized territory | Rivière-aux-Outardes |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Little unidentified lake Rivière-aux-Outardes 430 m (1,410 ft) 49°30′12″N 68°10′45″W / 49.50333°N 68.17917°W |
| River mouth | Franquelin River Franquelin 67 m (220 ft) 49°21′22″N 67°50′41″W / 49.35611°N 67.84472°W |
| Length | 40.0 km (24.9 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Franquelin River, Gulf of St. Lawrence |
| Tributaries |
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The Rivière Franquelin Branche Ouest is a river in Quebec, Canada. Its name means Franquelin River West Branch in English. This river is a branch of the larger Franquelin River. It flows through the Manicouagan Regional County Municipality in the Côte-Nord region.
The area around the river is mostly forest. People use the valley for forestry, which means cutting down trees for wood. It's also a place for recreational tourism, like hiking or fishing. A forest road runs along the valley, making it easier to access.
During winter, the river usually freezes over. This happens from early November until the end of April. However, it's generally safe to walk or travel on the ice from late November to early April.
Contents
Where the River Starts and Flows
The Franquelin Branche Ouest river begins in a small, unnamed lake. This lake is located in an area called Rivière-aux-Outardes. The lake is about 0.13 km (0.081 mi) long and sits at an altitude of 430 m (1,410 ft) (about 1,410 feet) above sea level.
The river's starting point is:
- 31.1 km (19.3 mi) (about 19.3 miles) northwest of the village of Franquelin.
- 29.2 km (18.1 mi) (about 18.1 miles) west of where the Franquelin River West Branch joins the main Franquelin River.
From its source, the Franquelin Branche Ouest river flows for 40.0 km (24.9 mi) (about 25 miles). It drops 363 m (1,191 ft) (about 1,191 feet) in elevation along its journey. Most of its path is through forested areas.
The River's Upper Journey
The first part of the river's journey covers about 15.0 km (9.3 mi) (9.3 miles).
- It starts by flowing south, going down a cliff.
- Then it turns east, moving through a valley that gets steeper.
- It collects water from lakes like Chapados Lake and Lac Beaudin.
- The river continues eastward in a fairly straight line.
- It also picks up water from Lac Guay and Lac Audet.
- Near the end of this section, it bends southeast and meets the Chasseur stream.
The River's Lower Journey
The second part of the river's journey is about 25.0 km (15.5 mi) (15.5 miles) long.
- It first flows south, then east, making a loop before heading northeast.
- It then generally flows southeast, at the base of a mountain.
- Along this part, it forms several smaller streams.
- It collects water from various small lakes.
- The river then turns northeast, gathering water from more lakes.
- It flows southeast again, meeting the Lessard River.
- Finally, it flows southeast, then east, making a loop before reaching its mouth.
The Franquelin West Branch River empties into the west side of the Franquelin River. This meeting point is located:
- 8.1 km (5.0 mi) (about 5 miles) north of where the main Franquelin River flows into the sea.
- 18.4 km (11.4 mi) (about 11.4 miles) west of the village of Godbout.
- 35.2 km (21.9 mi) (about 21.9 miles) northeast of downtown Baie-Comeau.
After the West Branch joins, the main Franquelin River continues for another 19.0 km (11.8 mi) (about 11.8 miles). It then flows into the northern part of the estuary of Saint Lawrence, which is where the Saint Lawrence River meets the Atlantic Ocean.
How the River Got Its Name
The name "Franquelin Branche Ouest" was officially recognized on August 2, 1974. This happened at the Place Names Bank of the Commission de toponymie du Québec. Toponymy is the study of place names and how they came to be.
