Étamamiou River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Étamamiou River |
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| Other name(s) | Rivière Étamamiou |
| 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°16′51″N 59°58′44″W / 50.2808333°N 59.9788889°W |
| Length | 160 kilometres (99 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 3,000 square kilometres (1,200 sq mi) |
The Étamamiou River (also called Rivière Étamamiou in French) is a cool river found in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec, Canada. It's known for its unique path and the amazing wildlife that lives around it.
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Where is the Étamamiou River Located?
This river flows through an area called the Basse-Côte-Nord. It's located between two other rivers, the Olomane and the Little Mecatina.
The Étamamiou River is about 160 kilometres (99 mi) long. It has a very winding and irregular path. For example, upstream from Lake Manet, about 75 kilometres (47 mi) from where it meets the sea, the river actually splits into two parts. These two parts then join back together at Foucher Lake, about 55 kilometres (34 mi) further downstream.
Just 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) before it reaches the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the river splits again into two channels. One channel flows into the gulf near a small village called Étamamiou. The other channel enters Bussière Bay. Near the river's mouth, there are some impressive rapids. However, most of the river above this point is calm and peaceful.
The mouth of the river is in the municipality of Côte-Nord-du-Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent. This area is part of the Le Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent Regional County Municipality. The river's mouth is about 110 kilometres (68 mi) west of La Tabatière and 110 kilometres (68 mi) east of Natashquan. If you look south from the river's mouth, you'll see the Ouapitagone Archipelago, which is a group of islands.
What Does the Name Étamamiou Mean?
The name "Étamamiou" comes from the Innu language. The Innu word "aitumamiu" means "splitting in two" or "lake with two outlets." This makes sense because the river often divides into different sections.
Over time, the river's name has been spelled in many ways, like Etamamu, Itamamiou, and Itumamu. The spelling "Étamamiou" became common on maps around 1913. Interestingly, early maps sometimes showed one part of the river flowing into the wrong lake or bay. These mistakes weren't fixed on maps until 1950.
The Innu people also have other names for the river. They call it Uiahtehau, which means "the leaves change color in the fall." Another name they use is Mistamiskaikan Hipu.
Wildlife Around the Étamamiou River
The Étamamiou River drains a large area of land, covering about 3,000 square kilometres (1,200 sq mi). This mountainous region is full of amazing wildlife.
You can find many animals here, such as:
- Hare
- Ruffed grouse (a type of bird)
- Spruce grouse (another type of bird)
- Ptarmigan (birds that change feather color with seasons)
- Boreal woodland caribou (a type of deer)
- Moose (the largest type of deer)
- Marten (a small mammal)
- Canada lynx (a wild cat)
- Porcupine
The waters of the river are also home to many creatures, including:
History of European Presence
Around 1733, a French trader named Jacques de Lafontaine de Belcour set up a trading post at the mouth of the Étamamiou River. This was a place where people could trade goods.
In 1764, the trading post was sold to the English. It seems to have stayed in business for another 100 years!
Later, in 1892, a surveyor named Louis Poulin de Courval explored the river. He said that the main mouth of the river was a good harbor for boats. He also noted that the river was like a series of lakes, full of salmon and trout. He described the area as excellent for hunting.
Today, there's a small village called Étamamiou where the old trading post used to be. A few families live there, mostly involved in fishing. There's also an outfitter, which is a business that helps people go on outdoor trips.
Fishing on the Étamamiou River
The Étamamiou River is a great place for fishing, especially for salmon. Salmon swim up the river for more than 140 kilometres (87 mi) from the sea.
An outfitter called Étamamiou inc. is located just 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the river's mouth. This outfitter belongs to the Unamen Shipu community of Innus, who are the Indigenous people of the area.
As of 2019, Étamamiou Outfitters has special rights to control fishing in the river basin. They offer services like:
- Providing Innu guides to help you fish.
- Transportation by float plane (a plane that can land on water).
- Accommodation (places to stay).
- A chef to cook meals.
The river has six main salmon pools, which are areas where salmon gather. These pools have rocky, sandy bottoms. Fishing is mostly done from boats. Besides salmon, you can also find many anadromous brook trout. Anadromous fish are those that live in saltwater but swim up rivers to lay their eggs.
