Natashquan River
Encyclopedia
The Natashquan [nəˈtæʃkn] is a river in the Canadian provinces of Quebec
and Newfoundland and Labrador
. It has its source just south of the boundary between the Atlantic and Saint Lawrence watersheds. It flows south-east to the Labrador–Quebec border from where it flows southward. In Quebec, the river forms the boundary between the Minganie
and Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent
Regional County Municipalities before draining into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
, about 370 kilometres (229.9 mi) east from Sept-Îles
. The name is of Innu
origin, who call it Nutahquaniu Hipu, meaning "river where black bear is hunted".
Together with the Moisie River
, the Natashquan is one of the most renowned salmon rivers on the North Shore of the Gulf
.
There are no bridges crossing the river, although one is being designed for the eastward extension of Quebec Route 138
.
, characterized by a hilly plateau, ranging in altitute from 140 metres (459.3 ft) to 620 metres (2,034.1 ft), and consisting of felsic
and metamorphic rock
(such as gneiss, migmatite and granite), clastic rock (quartzite) and schists in the lower portion, with a few intrusions of mafic
rock (diorite and gabbro) in the central part. The river largely runs through narrow valleys, and is fed by about 30 tributaries, of which the most significant are in downstream order: the Lejamtel, Mercereau, Mahkunipiu, Mistanipisipou, East Natashquan, Pehatnaniskau, Doré, West Natashquan, and Akaku Rivers.
The last 18 kilometres (11.2 mi) of the river forms a large sandy estuary, separated from the gulf by Natashquan Point and Cape Tiennot. Sainte-Hélène Island (île Sainte-Hélène) is located at the very mouth of the river.
The climate of the basin is subarctic
continental
, with a short growing season. The upper portion has a cold subhumid climate, whereas the lower part is humid.
sailed by the area and named Cape Thiennot after a ship captain that had settled at that location. The river was mapped in 1684 by Louis Jolliet
who called it "Noutascoüan". Jacques-Nicolas Bellin
identified it as "Grand R. Natachquoin" on his map of 1744, while the 1776 map by Carver showed "Great Natashkwen".
From as early as 1710, a trading post was established on the left (south) bank of the Natashquan River and later on the opposite bank (at the river's mouth at present-day Natashquan FN Reserve) to conduct fur trade with the indigenous Innu
people. The post was acquired by the Hudson's Bay Company
in the middle of the 19th century, but abandoned circa 1914 due to lack of profitability.
, will extend 190 kilometres (118.1 mi) along the Natashquan River southward from the Labrador–Quebec border and also include 105 kilometres (65.2 mi) of the East Natashquan River. Furthermore, some 16000 square kilometres (6,177.6 sq mi) is under study to be included in a new park, the Natashquan-Aguanus-Kenamu National Park.
The landscape of proposed reserve is deemed to have great beauty, exceptional value, recognized heritage interest, and considerable cultural interest. Therefore, the reserve is meant to protect favourable Atlantic salmon
habitats, biodiversity of aquatic and riparian habitats, and old-growth forests. It will also manage sustainable harvesting of fur-bearing animals and develop tourism opportunities, while prohibiting mining, forestry, and hydro-electric development.
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
and Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
. It has its source just south of the boundary between the Atlantic and Saint Lawrence watersheds. It flows south-east to the Labrador–Quebec border from where it flows southward. In Quebec, the river forms the boundary between the Minganie
Minganie Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Minganie is a regional county municipality of Quebec in Canada. The regional seat is Havre-Saint-Pierre. Anticosti Island is included within this region. It has a land area of ....
and Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent
Le Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Le Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent is a Regional county municipality in the Côte-Nord region of far-eastern Quebec, Canada. It includes all the communities along the Gulf of Saint Lawrence between the Natashquan River and the Newfoundland and Labrador border...
Regional County Municipalities before draining into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence
Gulf of Saint Lawrence
The Gulf of Saint Lawrence , the world's largest estuary, is the outlet of North America's Great Lakes via the Saint Lawrence River into the Atlantic Ocean...
, about 370 kilometres (229.9 mi) east from Sept-Îles
Sept-Îles, Quebec
For the islands in north of Brittany, see JentilezSept-Îles is a city in the Côte-Nord region of eastern Quebec, Canada. It is the northernmost town in Quebec with any significant population...
. The name is of Innu
Innu
The Innu are the indigenous inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan , which comprises most of the northeastern portions of the provinces of Quebec and some western portions of Labrador...
origin, who call it Nutahquaniu Hipu, meaning "river where black bear is hunted".
Together with the Moisie River
Moisie River
The Moisie River is a river in eastern Quebec. Called and known as the Nahanni of the East, it is one of the most beautiful wild rivers of North America. It flows south from Lake Opocopa near the Labrador border to the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River east of Sept-Îles, Quebec. The town of...
, the Natashquan is one of the most renowned salmon rivers on the North Shore of the Gulf
Côte-Nord
Côte-Nord is the second largest administrative region by land area in Quebec, Canada, after Nord-du-Québec...
.
There are no bridges crossing the river, although one is being designed for the eastward extension of Quebec Route 138
Quebec route 138
Route 138 is a major highway in the Canadian province of Quebec, following the entire north shore of the Saint Lawrence River past Montreal to the eastern terminus in Natashquan on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The western terminus is in Elgin, at the border with New York State south-west of Montreal...
.
Geography
The Natashquan River is entirely within the Grenville geologic province of the Canadian ShieldCanadian Shield
The Canadian Shield, also called the Laurentian Plateau, or Bouclier Canadien , is a vast geological shield covered by a thin layer of soil that forms the nucleus of the North American or Laurentia craton. It is an area mostly composed of igneous rock which relates to its long volcanic history...
, characterized by a hilly plateau, ranging in altitute from 140 metres (459.3 ft) to 620 metres (2,034.1 ft), and consisting of felsic
Felsic
The word "felsic" is a term used in geology to refer to silicate minerals, magma, and rocks which are enriched in the lighter elements such as silicon, oxygen, aluminium, sodium, and potassium....
and metamorphic rock
Metamorphic rock
Metamorphic rock is the transformation of an existing rock type, the protolith, in a process called metamorphism, which means "change in form". The protolith is subjected to heat and pressure causing profound physical and/or chemical change...
(such as gneiss, migmatite and granite), clastic rock (quartzite) and schists in the lower portion, with a few intrusions of mafic
Mafic
Mafic is an adjective describing a silicate mineral or rock that is rich in magnesium and iron; the term is a portmanteau of the words "magnesium" and "ferric". Most mafic minerals are dark in color and the relative density is greater than 3. Common rock-forming mafic minerals include olivine,...
rock (diorite and gabbro) in the central part. The river largely runs through narrow valleys, and is fed by about 30 tributaries, of which the most significant are in downstream order: the Lejamtel, Mercereau, Mahkunipiu, Mistanipisipou, East Natashquan, Pehatnaniskau, Doré, West Natashquan, and Akaku Rivers.
The last 18 kilometres (11.2 mi) of the river forms a large sandy estuary, separated from the gulf by Natashquan Point and Cape Tiennot. Sainte-Hélène Island (île Sainte-Hélène) is located at the very mouth of the river.
The climate of the basin is subarctic
Subarctic climate
The subarctic climate is a climate characterized by long, usually very cold winters, and short, cool to mild summers. It is found on large landmasses, away from the moderating effects of an ocean, generally at latitudes from 50° to 70°N poleward of the humid continental climates...
continental
Humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
, with a short growing season. The upper portion has a cold subhumid climate, whereas the lower part is humid.
History
In 1534, Jacques CartierJacques Cartier
Jacques Cartier was a French explorer of Breton origin who claimed what is now Canada for France. He was the first European to describe and map the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the shores of the Saint Lawrence River, which he named "The Country of Canadas", after the Iroquois names for the two big...
sailed by the area and named Cape Thiennot after a ship captain that had settled at that location. The river was mapped in 1684 by Louis Jolliet
Louis Jolliet
Louis Jolliet , also known as Louis Joliet, was a French Canadian explorer known for his discoveries in North America...
who called it "Noutascoüan". Jacques-Nicolas Bellin
Jacques-Nicolas Bellin
Jacques Nicolas Bellin was a French hydrographer, geographer, and member of the French intellectual group called the philosophes....
identified it as "Grand R. Natachquoin" on his map of 1744, while the 1776 map by Carver showed "Great Natashkwen".
From as early as 1710, a trading post was established on the left (south) bank of the Natashquan River and later on the opposite bank (at the river's mouth at present-day Natashquan FN Reserve) to conduct fur trade with the indigenous Innu
Innu
The Innu are the indigenous inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan , which comprises most of the northeastern portions of the provinces of Quebec and some western portions of Labrador...
people. The post was acquired by the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
in the middle of the 19th century, but abandoned circa 1914 due to lack of profitability.
Conservation
An area of 4089 square kilometres (1,578.8 sq mi) is being considered for protection in a biodiversity reserve. The reserve, mostly within the Petit-Mécatina unorganized territoryPetit-Mécatina, Quebec
Petit-Mécatina is an unorganized territory in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec, Canada, part of Le Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent Regional County Municipality...
, will extend 190 kilometres (118.1 mi) along the Natashquan River southward from the Labrador–Quebec border and also include 105 kilometres (65.2 mi) of the East Natashquan River. Furthermore, some 16000 square kilometres (6,177.6 sq mi) is under study to be included in a new park, the Natashquan-Aguanus-Kenamu National Park.
The landscape of proposed reserve is deemed to have great beauty, exceptional value, recognized heritage interest, and considerable cultural interest. Therefore, the reserve is meant to protect favourable Atlantic salmon
Atlantic salmon
The Atlantic salmon is a species of fish in the family Salmonidae, which is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow into the north Atlantic and the north Pacific....
habitats, biodiversity of aquatic and riparian habitats, and old-growth forests. It will also manage sustainable harvesting of fur-bearing animals and develop tourism opportunities, while prohibiting mining, forestry, and hydro-electric development.