Simoncouche River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Simoncouche River |
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|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean |
| Regional County Municipality | Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality |
| Unorganized territory and a city | Lac-Ministuk and Saguenay |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Forest stream Lac-Ministuk 400 units? 48°08′55″N 71°10′41″W / 48.1487°N 71.1781°W |
| River mouth | Kenogami Lake Saguenay 164 m (538 ft) 48°17′18″N 71°13′44″W / 48.2883°N 71.2290°W |
| Length | 22.5 km (14.0 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Simoncouche River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into Kénogami Lake. The river starts in a wild area called Lac-Ministuk. It then flows through parts of the city of Saguenay.
The upper part of the river is in the zec Mars-Moulin area. The middle part, which includes lakes like Lac aux Rats Musqués and Simoncouche Lake, goes through the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve.
People use the Route 175 and other smaller roads to get to this area. These roads help with logging, tourism, and for people who live there. The main jobs in this valley are related to forestry (cutting down trees). Tourism is also important.
The Simoncouche River usually freezes over from early December to late March. It's generally safe to walk or play on the ice from mid-December to mid-March.
Contents
Where the River Flows
The Simoncouche River is surrounded by other rivers and lakes. These are called watersheds. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into one main river or lake.
- To the north, you'll find Kénogami Lake, Chicoutimi River, and the Saguenay River.
- To the east, there are smaller streams like Lac William brook and Henriette brook.
- To the south, you'll find the Cyriac River and Cyriac lake.
- To the west, there's also the Cyriac River and the Normand River.
The Simoncouche River starts from a small forest stream. This stream is about 400 meters (1,312 feet) above sea level. Its source is located in a forest, not far from Route 175.
From its start, the Simoncouche River flows for about 22.5 kilometers (14 miles). It drops about 236 meters (774 feet) in height as it flows through the forest.
River's Journey
The river's journey includes several interesting parts:
- It first flows northeast, then turns northwest. It goes through Muscat Rats Lake.
- It continues northwest, crossing Lac des Îlets, which has a cool T-shaped island.
- Next, it flows northwest through Simoncouche Lake.
- It then goes west, crossing Route 175. It follows the road for a bit.
- The river turns northeast, meeting the Chiens stream. This stream brings water from Grand lac des Mouches and Petit lac des Mouches.
- It crosses Route 175 again, heading northwest towards Chaud stream.
- Finally, it flows northwest to its end.
The Simoncouche River empties into Moncouche Bay, which is on the south side of Kénogami Lake. This area is part of the Kénogami sector in the city of Saguenay. The Moncouche Bay is next to Villa Marie Bay. There's a special structure called the Moncouche dike there. It helps control the water levels of the lake.
After joining Kénogami Lake, the water from the Simoncouche River travels through the lake. Then it flows into the Chicoutimi River, and finally into the mighty Saguenay River. The Saguenay River then flows east for a long way, eventually joining the huge Saint Lawrence estuary near Tadoussac.
Simoncouche Teaching and Research Forest (FERS)
The Simoncouche Teaching and Research Forest (FERS) is a special place. It's about 20 minutes from downtown Chicoutimi. It covers an area of 27 square kilometers (10 square miles). The University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (UQAC) manages this forest.
FERS was created to help students learn about forestry in a hands-on way. It also supports research about forests. The University of Quebec at Chicoutimi was given this job in 1981.
The FERS has many trails that connect the eight lakes in its area. The biggest lakes are Lac des Îlets, Simoncouche, and du Dépôt. The main trees you'll find here are poplar, birch, fir, and spruce. For fish, you can find brook trout and white sucker.
What Happens at FERS
At FERS, they do many important things:
- They manage the forest, helping damaged areas grow back.
- They keep an eye on the different plants and animals living there to protect biodiversity (the variety of life).
- They check how natural camping spots are being affected by use.
- They study how climate change affects how trees grow.
The main buildings at FERS include a large chalet with bedrooms and meeting rooms. There's also a research building, a boathouse, and a chalet at Lac du Dépôt. You can find Simoncouche beach and special tent platforms for camping at Simoncouche, Lac du Dépôt, and Lac des Îlets. There are also many wild areas to explore.
Name of the River
The name "Simoncouche River" was officially given on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a special group that names places in Quebec.
