Rivière aux Outardes

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Catchment area of ​​the Rivière aux Outardes in yellow

The Rivière aux Outardes (English Outardes River) flows through the administrative regions of Saguenay -Lac -Saint -Jean, and Côte- Nord, Québec, Canada.

The river has its origin in the Monts Otish in Central Labrador. From there it flows only in the south. It flows through the lakes Lac and Lac des Îles Plétipi Brûlées. He then widens in the form of the dammed 650 km ² Outardes 4 Reservoir. Finally, the Rivière aux Outardes opens at Pointe- aux- Outardes, about 20 km southwest of Baie- Comeau, in the estuary of the St. Lawrence River.

The Rivière aux Outardes widens at its mouth and flows over a sand bank, so that the water here is very shallow. There are several islands in the estuary. Among these was here Île Blanche, a 23 meter cliff of white granite, and Ile de la Mine, a naked red 15 m high rock.

The river was originally named by Jean Alfonse 1544 Cane or Caen. On maps from Jacques -Nicolas Bellin from the years 1744 and 1764 the name Rivière aux Outardes appeared for the first time. Today Outardes is the Canadian- French word for Canada geese. The Innu called the river Pirebistibit, Peritibistokou, Pletipishtuk or Piletipîstuk Shipu.

Among the most important tributaries include:

• Rivière à l' Argent Rivière à Villéon

As part of the Manic - Outardes project several dams and hydroelectric power plants were built in the 1960s and 1970s along the river. There are three hydroelectric power plants, which are operated by Hydro-Québec:

• Réservoir aux Outardes 2 - 3 Francis turbines, 523 MW, built from 1974 to 1978 ( above the mouth at Chute -aux- Outardes )
• Réservoir aux Outardes 3-4 Francis turbines, 1026 MW, built 1965-1969
• Réservoir aux Outardes 4-4 Francis turbines, 785 MW, built 1964-1969