Washicoutai River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Washicoutai River |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Other name(s) | Rivière Washicoutai |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Côte-Nord |
| RCM | Le Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Gulf of Saint Lawrence 0 metres (0 ft) 50°15′02″N 60°48′52″W / 50.2505556°N 60.8144444°W |
The Washicoutai River (French: Rivière Washicoutai) is a special river in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec, Canada. It is known for its salmon. The river flows south and eventually empties into the big Gulf of Saint Lawrence.
Contents
Where is the Washicoutai River?
The Washicoutai River is about 103 kilometres (64 mi) long. That's like driving for an hour at highway speed! Near its beginning, the river gets narrow in some spots. It then flows through several large lakes. Some of these lakes are super deep, up to 30 metres (98 ft)! As the river gets closer to the ocean, it becomes wider. This wide part, called an estuary, has many islands. These islands are a safe home for lots of different seabirds. The river's mouth is about 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) from the village of La Romaine. You can find this river in the area called Côte-Nord-du-Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent.
What Does "Washicoutai" Mean?
The name Washicoutai comes from the Innu language. It means "it overlooks the bay." This name might describe how the river enters Washicoutai Bay. It flows in over a 4 metres (13 ft) high drop. The name "Ouasassacouté" was first seen on a map in 1685. This map was made by Jean-Baptiste-Louis Franquelin. The name Washicoutai is also used for the group of islands along the coast near the bay.
What's Special About the River?
The Washicoutai River is famous for its natural beauty and wildlife. It flows through the Laurentides mountains. There's a waterfall about 7 miles (11 km) from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The river's banks are made of tall granite mountains, some reaching 300 to 500 feet (91 to 152 m) high. It's a great place for fishing, especially for salmon. The lakes connected to the river have many trout. It's also a good spot for hunting. You can find many animals here. Birds like bustards, black ducks, and eiders make their nests around the river. Some parts of the area around the river, about 10 to 12 miles (16 to 19 km) long, have very few trees. You can also find landlocked salmon in the lakes formed by the river. These are salmon that live their whole lives in freshwater.
The River's Basin
The area of land that drains into the Washicoutai River is called its basin. This basin covers a large area of 1,558 square kilometres (602 sq mi). It sits between two other river basins: the Musquanousse River to the west and the Olomane River to the east. The river basin is partly in a wild, unorganized area called Petit-Mécatina. The other part is in the municipality of Côte-Nord-du-Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent. This region is part of a large forest area. It has lots of spruce trees and moss. Some of the cool land animals you might see here include black bears, wolves, and moose.
Fishing in the Washicoutai River
The Washicoutai River is well-known as an Atlantic salmon river. From 2013 to 2017, about 47 salmon were caught here each year. A special company called Pourvoirie de La Rivière Washicoutai offers fishing trips. They have the only right to offer fishing on a 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) part of the river. Anglers (people who fish) can stand in the water or use boats. They can catch salmon that weigh up to 5 kilograms (11 lb) on average. Besides salmon, you can also catch Arctic char, brook trout, and landlocked salmon here.
