Saint-Cyr River South facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint-Cyr South |
|
|---|---|
Watershed of Nottaway River
|
|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Nord-du-Québec |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Barry Lake (Saint-Cyr River South) Eeyou Istchee James Bay (municipality), Nord-du-Québec, Quebec 392 m (1,286 ft) 48°58′10″N 75°32′34″W / 48.96944°N 75.54278°W |
| River mouth | Mégiscane River Eeyou Istchee James Bay (municipality), Nord-du-Québec, Quebec 293 m (961 ft) 48°35′29″N 76°46′16″W / 48.59139°N 76.77111°W |
| Length | 50.1 km (31.1 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
|
The Saint-Cyr River South is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Mégiscane River, which is part of a larger river system. This river is located in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region.
The Saint-Cyr River South flows through several areas known as cantons, including Bailly, Kalm, Mesplet, and Cherrier. The main activities in this area are forestry, which means cutting down trees for wood, and tourism, like visiting for fun.
A forest road, R1053, runs near the river, helping people get around. This road connects to another road, R1009. The river usually freezes over from early November until mid-May. However, it's generally safe to travel on the ice from mid-November to mid-April.
Contents
Exploring the Saint-Cyr River South
The Saint-Cyr River South is part of a big network of rivers and lakes. It starts at Barry Lake (Saint-Cyr River South) and flows for about 50.1 kilometres (31.1 mi) (about 31 miles).
Where the River Begins
The river starts at the mouth of Barry Lake (Saint-Cyr River South). This lake is 12.9 kilometres (8.0 mi) (about 8 miles) long and sits at an elevation of 392 metres (1,286 ft) (about 1,286 feet). Barry Lake is located in the areas of Barry and Bailly.
From Barry Lake, the Saint-Cyr River South flows south. It crosses Bailly Lake (Saint-Cyr River South) and then continues southwest into the areas of Kalm and Mesplet.
Journey Through Lakes
The river also flows through Saint-Cyr Lake. This lake is 15.2 kilometres (9.4 mi) (about 9.4 miles) long. After passing through these lakes, the river makes a turn and continues its journey.
Where the River Ends
Finally, the Saint-Cyr River South flows into a bay on the north shore of Canusio Lake. The Mégiscane River also flows through Canusio Lake. From there, the water generally moves southwest, passing through other lakes like Mégiscane Lake and Berthelot Lake (Mégiscane River).
The Mégiscane River eventually joins the Bell River. This larger river system then flows north into Parent Lake (Abitibi), then into Matagami Lake, and finally into the Nottaway River. The Nottaway River empties into Rupert Bay, which is part of James Bay.
Naming the Saint-Cyr River
The name "Saint-Cyr" comes from a French family name. Over time, different Indigenous groups like the Attikameks, Algonquins, and Crees lived in this area.
How the River Got Its Name
The river was named "Saint-Cyr River" by a surveyor named Henry O'Sullivan between 1897 and 1899. He named it after his assistant, Arthur Saint-Cyr (1860-1923). Arthur Saint-Cyr was a surveyor who later worked on building the Quebec Central Railway.
A River with Two Parts
Originally, the entire river was called "Saint-Cyr River." However, parts of the river flow into different larger river systems. The southern part of the river, from Barry Lake (Saint-Cyr River South) to Canusio Lake, flows towards the Gouin Reservoir via the Mégiscane River. This part was used by Hydro-Québec for power.
Because of this, the Quebec Toponymy Commission decided to give the southern part of the river a new name: "Rivière Saint-Cyr Sud" (Saint-Cyr River South). This change was made on September 24, 2003. The northern part of the river kept the name "Rivière Saint-Cyr."
The name "Saint-Cyr River" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. The name "Rivière Saint-Cyr Sud" became official on September 24, 2003.
