| Caniapiscau River | |
|---|---|
 Eaton Canyon | |
 Drainage basin of the Koksoak River in yellow. Diverted basin of the Caniapiscau River in orange | |
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Nord-du-Québec |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Lake Sevestre |
| • coordinates | 52°32′23″N68°01′15″W / 52.53972°N 68.02083°W /52.53972; -68.02083 |
| • elevation | 638 m (2,093 ft) |
| Mouth | Koksoak River |
• location | About 80 km SW fromKuujjuaq |
• coordinates | 57°40′18″N69°29′12″W / 57.67167°N 69.48667°W /57.67167; -69.48667 |
• elevation | 20 m (66 ft) |
| Length | 737 km (458 mi) |
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TheCaniapiscau River (French:rivière Caniapiscau) is atributary of theKoksoak River inNunavik,Quebec, Canada. InCree the name of theriver meansrocky point.[1]
Starting from Lac Sevestre (53 km (33 mi) south-west fromFermont) on theCanadian Shield, the Caniapiscau River flows northward through a wide, timberedglacialvalley until it makes a sharp turn at its confluence with theRivière aux Mélèzes (Larch River). At this point (called Kanniq Confluence), the river becomes the Koksoak River. The total length of the Caniapiscau River is 737 kilometres (458 mi).
Since 1985, the headwaters of the Caniapiscau River have been diverted into theLa Grandehydroelectric complex. The headwaters of the Caniapiscau River, representing about 45% of the total flow, now drain into theLa Grande River ofJames Bay. TheCaniapiscau Reservoir, which covers about 4,300 km2 (1,700 sq mi), or about nine times the size of the natural Lake Caniapiscau, fills a depression in the highest part of theCanadian Shield. The total catchment basin is about 36,800 km2 (14,200 sq mi).
Important variations in the water flow of the Caniapiscau River from 1981 to 1984, during the period when the Caniapiscau Reservoir was being filled, may have contributed to thedeath by drowning of 9,600migratory woodland caribou in September 1984 at Chute du Calcaire[1] (about 1.5% ofGeorge River herd).
The Caniapiscau River basin has no permanent inhabitants, althoughCree from the James Bay region as well as southernhunters do travel to the area bybush plane and via theTrans-Taiga Road. From time to time, the river is visited bycanoeists.[1][2]
In 1820, James Clouston, an employee of theHudson's Bay Company, went down the river to its mouth and named itCaniapuscaw River in his diary and map. In 1828, explorer William Hendry identified it asCanniappuscaw. In 1898, the geologistAlbert Peter Low usedKaniapiskau, and by the middle of the 20th century, the current spelling came in use.[3]
TheInuit call the riverAdlait Kuunga orAllait Kuunga, meaning "Indian River". It was also known asWauguash River.[3]
Caniapiscau River has several spectacularcanyons andwaterfalls:
