Passes-Dangereuses, Quebec
Encyclopedia
Passes-Dangereuses is an unorganized territory in the Canadian
province of Quebec
, located between the Peribonka River
on the east and the Mistassibi River
on the west. The territory, part of the regional county municipality
of Maria-Chapdelaine
, covered a land area of 15992.51 square kilometres (6,174.7 sq mi) and had a population of 174 in the Canada 2006 Census
, all living in the village of Sainte-Élisabeth-de-Proulx (48°57′51"N 72°04′05"W), which is north-east of Dolbeau-Mistassini in the geographic township of Proulx.
The territory was formed in January 1981, and was then known as "Lac-Saint-Jean-Ouest, partie Chute-des-Passes". This was shortened to Chute-des-Passes in August 1986. On May 23, 2009, the territory was renamed to Passes-Dangereuses in order to avoid confusion with the hamlet of Chute-des-Passes in the neighbouring Unorganized Territory of Mont-Valin
.
The territory's name Passes-Dangereuses (French for "dangerous pass") refers to a series of rapids and chutes that stir up the Peribonka River
for a distance of about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Lake Peribonka's outlet downstream. This section of the river flows through impressive escarpments of over 100 metres (328.1 ft) high and was first identified as "the nasty portage
" by Jesuit Pierre-Michel Laure on his map of 1731. The following year, this missionary used the Indian name Katchiskataouakigs, also used by Bellin
on his map of 1744. A map of Jonathan Carver
from 1776 indicated "Falls and Rift" to characterize the place. Not until the end of the 19th century did the current toponym begin to appear on survey maps. In 1941, Alcan
built at the head of these rapids a dam called Chute-des-Passes, forming Lake Peribonka behind it. The dam's name also refers to the nearby hamlet that formed the east side of the river, and was the former name of Passes-Dangereuses Territory.
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 71 (total dwellings: 76)
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Quebec
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....
, located between the Peribonka River
Peribonka River
The Peribonka River is a river in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean area in Quebec, Canada. It is long and drains an area of . It drains into Lac Saint-Jean at Pointe-Taillon National Park and is the largest tributary of this lake...
on the east and the Mistassibi River
Mistassibi River
The Mistassibi River is a river in central Quebec, Canada. It is long and has a drainage basin of . Its source is an area with unnamed lakes about east of Canso Bay of Lake Albanel, eastern neighbor of Lake Mistassini....
on the west. The territory, part of the regional county municipality
Regional county municipality
The term regional county municipality or RCM is used in Quebec to designate one of 86 county-like political and geographic units. In most cases, they are also census divisions. Regional County Municipalities are a supralocal type of "Regional Municipality" and are still commonly referred to as...
of Maria-Chapdelaine
Maria-Chapdelaine Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Maria-Chapdelaine is a Regional County Municipality in northeastern Quebec, Canada. Its seat is in Dolbeau-Mistassini. The RCM runs from Lac Saint-Jean in the south to the deep interior of northern Quebec in the north...
, covered a land area of 15992.51 square kilometres (6,174.7 sq mi) and had a population of 174 in the Canada 2006 Census
Canada 2006 Census
The Canada 2006 Census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897...
, all living in the village of Sainte-Élisabeth-de-Proulx (48°57′51"N 72°04′05"W), which is north-east of Dolbeau-Mistassini in the geographic township of Proulx.
The territory was formed in January 1981, and was then known as "Lac-Saint-Jean-Ouest, partie Chute-des-Passes". This was shortened to Chute-des-Passes in August 1986. On May 23, 2009, the territory was renamed to Passes-Dangereuses in order to avoid confusion with the hamlet of Chute-des-Passes in the neighbouring Unorganized Territory of Mont-Valin
Mont-Valin, Quebec
Mont-Valin is an unorganized territory in the Canadian province of Quebec. It makes up over 87% of Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality and is the largest subdivision of the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region...
.
The territory's name Passes-Dangereuses (French for "dangerous pass") refers to a series of rapids and chutes that stir up the Peribonka River
Peribonka River
The Peribonka River is a river in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean area in Quebec, Canada. It is long and drains an area of . It drains into Lac Saint-Jean at Pointe-Taillon National Park and is the largest tributary of this lake...
for a distance of about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Lake Peribonka's outlet downstream. This section of the river flows through impressive escarpments of over 100 metres (328.1 ft) high and was first identified as "the nasty portage
Portage
Portage or portaging refers to the practice of carrying watercraft or cargo over land to avoid river obstacles, or between two bodies of water. A place where this carrying occurs is also called a portage; a person doing the carrying is called a porter.The English word portage is derived from the...
" by Jesuit Pierre-Michel Laure on his map of 1731. The following year, this missionary used the Indian name Katchiskataouakigs, also used by Bellin
Jacques-Nicolas Bellin
Jacques Nicolas Bellin was a French hydrographer, geographer, and member of the French intellectual group called the philosophes....
on his map of 1744. A map of Jonathan Carver
Jonathan Carver
Jonathan Carver was an American explorer and writer. He was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts and then moved with his family to Canterbury, Connecticut. He later married Abigail Robbins and became a shoemaker. He is believed to have had seven children.In 1755 Carver joined the colonial militia at...
from 1776 indicated "Falls and Rift" to characterize the place. Not until the end of the 19th century did the current toponym begin to appear on survey maps. In 1941, Alcan
Alcan
Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. is a Canadian company based in Montreal. It was created on November 15, 2007 as the result of the merger between Rio Tinto PLC's Canadian subsidiary, Rio Tinto Canada Holding Inc., and Canadian company Alcan Inc. On the same date, Alcan Inc. was renamed Rio Tinto Alcan Inc..Rio...
built at the head of these rapids a dam called Chute-des-Passes, forming Lake Peribonka behind it. The dam's name also refers to the nearby hamlet that formed the east side of the river, and was the former name of Passes-Dangereuses Territory.
Demographics
Population:- Population in 2006: 174 (2001 to 2006 population change: -7.4 %)
- Population in 2001: 188
- Population in 1996: 192
- Population in 1991: 207
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 71 (total dwellings: 76)