| Natashquan River | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Drainage basin in yellow | |
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Provinces | |
| Region | Côte-Nord |
| RCM | Minganie |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Unnamed wilderness |
| • location | About 210 km (130 mi) ESE ofLabrador City,Newfoundland and Labrador |
| • coordinates | 52°31′00″N63°45′45″W / 52.51667°N 63.76250°W /52.51667; -63.76250 |
| • elevation | 630 m (2,070 ft) |
| Mouth | Gulf of Saint Lawrence |
• location | Natashquan FN Reserve,Quebec |
• coordinates | 50°07′07″N61°48′26″W / 50.11861°N 61.80722°W /50.11861; -61.80722 |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 462 km (287 mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 410 m3/s (14,000 cu ft/s)[1] |
TheNatashquan/nəˈtæʃkən/[2] is a river in the Canadian provinces ofQuebec andNewfoundland and Labrador. It flows south into theGulf of Saint Lawrence.
The river has its source just south of the boundary between theAtlantic andSaint Lawrence river watersheds. It flows south-east to the Labrador–Quebec border from where it flows southward to the Gulf.[3]The river basin covers 16,005 square kilometres (6,180 sq mi). It lies between the basins of theAguanish River to the west and theKegaska River to the east.[4]About 39.8% of the basin is in Labrador north of the provincial boundary.[5]
The river is about 462 kilometres (287 mi), of which about 169 kilometres (105 mi) is in Labrador.The river has aStrahler number of 7.[5]InQuebec, the river forms the boundary between theMinganie andGolfe-du-Saint-Laurent Regional County Municipalities before draining into theGulf of Saint Lawrence, about 370 kilometers (230 mi) east fromSept-Îles. The name is ofInnu origin, who call itNutahquaniu Hipu, meaning "river where black bear is hunted".[3]
Together with theMoisie River, the Natashquan is one of the most renowned salmon rivers on theNorth Shore of the Gulf.[6]
The Natashquan River is entirely within the Grenville geologic province of theCanadian Shield, characterized by a hilly plateau, ranging in altitude from 140 meters (460 ft) to 620 meters (2,030 ft), and consisting offelsic andmetamorphic rock (such as gneiss, migmatite and granite),clastic rock (quartzite) and schists in the lower portion, with a few intrusions ofmafic 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.[6]
The last 18 kilometers (11 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 issubarcticcontinental, with a short growing season. The upper portion has a cold subhumid climate, whereas the lower part is humid.[6]
In 1534,Jacques Cartier sailed by the area and named Cape Thiennot after a ship captain that had settled at that location. The river was mapped in 1684 byLouis 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".[3]
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-dayNatashquan FN Reserve) to conduct fur trade with the indigenousInnu people. The post was acquired by theHudson's Bay Company in the middle of the 19th century, but abandoned circa 1914 due to lack of profitability.[7]
A bridge carryingQuebec Route 138 across the river was opened on September 26, 2013.[8][9]
An area of 4,089 square kilometres (1,579 sq mi) is being considered for protection in a biodiversity reserve. The reserve, mostly within thePetit-Mécatina unorganized territory, will extend 190 kilometres (120 mi) along the Natashquan River southward from the Labrador–Quebec border and also include 105 kilometres (65 mi) of the East Natashquan River.[6] Furthermore, some 16,000 square kilometres (6,200 sq mi) is under study to be included in a new park, the Natashquan-Aguanus-Kenamu National Park.[10]
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 favourableAtlantic 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.[6]
In May 2015 the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks of Quebec announced a sport fishing catch-and-release program for large salmon on sixteen of Quebec's 118 salmon rivers.These were theMitis,Laval,Pigou,Bouleau,aux Rochers,Jupitagon,Magpie,Saint-Jean,Corneille,Piashti,Watshishou,Little Watshishou,Nabisipi,Aguanish and Natashquan rivers.The Quebec Atlantic Salmon Federation said that the measures did not go nearly far enough in protecting salmon for future generations.In view of the rapidly declining Atlantic salmon population catch-and-release should have been implemented on all rivers apart from northern Quebec.[11]
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