Sawine River facts for kids

The Sawine River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Rivière aux Écorces. This river is located in an area called Lac-Ministuk, which is part of the Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality. This whole region is in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean.

The Sawine River flows through the northwestern part of the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve. The small valley where the river runs is close to Route 169. There are also some smaller forest roads here. These roads are mainly used for logging and for people visiting for fun, like camping or hiking.

Logging is the most important business in this valley. Tourism and outdoor activities come in second.

The Sawine River usually freezes over from early December to late March. However, it's generally safe to walk or travel on the ice from mid-December to mid-March.

Where the Sawine River Flows

The Sawine River is surrounded by other important water areas. These include:

• To the north: Bras des Angers, Pikauba River, and Rivière aux Écorces.
• To the east: Pika River and Pikauba River.
• To the south: Lac aux Écorces and Pika River.
• To the west: Morin River and Métabetchouane River.

The Sawine River starts at a lake called Lac du Virage. This lake is about 0.4 km long and sits at an elevation of 511 meters. It's located in a forest area within the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve.

The source of the river is:

• 0.7 km north of Lac Morin.
• 3.9 km southwest of Route 169.
• 7.2 km east of the Rivière aux Écorces.
• 14.8 km southeast of where the Sawine River joins the Rivière aux Écorces.
• 3.9 km west of Custeau Lake, which is connected to the Pika River.
• 45.1 km southeast of Lac Saint-Jean.

From its start, the Sawine River travels about 20.4 km. It drops 172 meters in elevation along its path. The entire journey is through a forest.

Here's how the river flows:

• It goes north for 0.9 km, passing through Lac du Cabanon.
• Then, it flows north for 6.0 km, collecting water from a stream and curving northwest. It reaches the bridge on Route 169.
• It continues northwest for 4.9 km, winding its way to where Lac Chartrand drains into it.
• Next, it goes north for 0.6 km to meet another stream.
• It flows north for 3.6 km to the Daoust stream.
• Finally, it travels 4.4 km north, making a turn east, then northwest, until it reaches its end.

The Sawine River joins the Rivière aux Écorces on its southeast side. This meeting point is:

• 0.3 km northeast of where the Morin River meets the Rivière aux Écorces.
• 7.6 km west of the Pikauba River.
• 8.8 km northeast of Belle Rivière lake.
• 9.7 km south of where the Pikauba River meets the Rivière aux Écorces.
• 15.3 km southeast of where the Pikauba River meets Kenogami Lake.
• 43.4 km southwest of where the Chicoutimi River meets the Saguenay River in Chicoutimi, a part of the city of Saguenay.

After the Sawine River joins the Rivière aux Écorces, the water continues its journey:

• It flows for 13.3 km northeast along the Rivière aux Écorces.
• Then, it follows the Pikauba River for 10.6 km, generally north.
• It crosses Kenogami Lake for 17.6 km northeast, reaching the Barrage de Portage-des-Roches dam.
• Next, it follows the Chicoutimi River for 26.2 km, heading east, then northeast.
• Finally, it travels along the Saguenay River for 114.6 km eastward to Tadoussac. Here, it flows into the Saint Lawrence estuary, which leads to the Atlantic Ocean.

The Name of the River

The name "Sawine River" first appeared on a map of Laurentian National Park in 1947. This name is a tribute to an Abenaki family, especially Ambroise O'Bomsawin and his son Amable. In the 1850s, this family settled in Mashteuiatsh, near Lac-Saint-Jean. The name "Sawine" is a shorter version of their family name, O'Bomsawin.

The name "Sawine River" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a government body that names places in Quebec.

Related Articles

• Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality
• Lac-Ministuk, an unorganized territory
• Laurentides Wildlife Reserve
• Rivière aux Écorces
• Pikauba River
• Kenogami Lake
• Chicoutimi River
• Saguenay River
• List of rivers of Quebec