Natashquan River
Catchment area of the river Rivière Natashquan in yellow
The Rivière Natashquan [ nətæʃkn ] ( in Newfoundland and Labrador: Natashquan River) is a river in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador.
It has its source south of the watershed between the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Gulf. It flows in a southeasterly direction toward the boundary between Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec. He then turns to the south. In Quebec it forms the border between the regional county municipalities Minganie and Basse- Côte- Nord, before it flows about 370 kilometers east of Sept- Îles in the St. Lawrence Gulf.
The river name has its origin in the language of the Innu, the Nutahquaniu Hipu called him, which means "river where black bears are hunted ."
The river belongs together with the adjacent Rivière Moisie of the most famous salmon rivers in the region Côte- Nord.
There are no bridges that cross the river. However, there are plans to expand Quebec Route 138 across the river to the east.
Geography
The river flows entirely within the Grenville geological province of the Canadian Shield, which is characterized by hilly plateaus that are located at altitudes of 140-620 m and felsite and metamorphic rocks (such as gneiss, migmatite and granite), clastic rocks ( quartzites ) and mica schist in the lower portions, with few intrusions of mafic rocks (diorite and gabbro ) in the central part. The river flows mostly in narrow valleys and is fed by some 30 tributaries. The most important of them are in downstream direction: Lejamtel, Mercereau, Mahkunipiu, Mistanipisipou, Rivière Natashquan Est, Pehatnaniskau, Doré, Rivière Ouest Natashquan and Akaku.
The last 18 km of the river are formed by a large sandy estuary, which is separated from the St. Lawrence Gulf by Natashquan Point and Cape Tiennot. île Sainte -Hélène ( Sainte -Hélène Iceland ) is located right at the mouth of the river.
The climate in the catchment area of the river is subarctic continental, with a short growing season. The overflow has a cold sub-humid climate, while the underflow has humid climate.
History
In 1534, Jacques Cartier sailed along the coast of the estuary and named Cape Thiennot after a ship captain who settled there. The river was mapped in 1684 by Louis Joliet and referred to as " Noutascoüan ". Jacques -Nicolas Bellin gave the river on his map of 1744 the name " Grand R. Natachquoin " while Carver in 1776 described him as " Great Natashkwen ".
Since about 1710 was located on the left ( southern ) bank of the river a trading post. Later, it was a set up on the opposite side of the river, where lies today the Natashquan FN reserve to operate the fur trade with the native Innu. The trading post was taken over by the Hudson's Bay Company in the mid-19th century. In 1914, he was abandoned due to lack of profitability.
Reserves
An area of 4089 km ² is provided as a biodiversity reserve. The protected area would mainly lie in Petit- Mécatina and would be 190 km southward along the river extending from the provincial border and additionally include 105 km of the creek Rivière Natashquan Est. In addition, 16,000 km ² area for a future Provincial Park Natashquan - Aguanus - Kenamu National Park are provided.
The protected areas are intended, inter alia, upkeep of the landscape and the habitat of Atlantic salmon and help promote tourism. Furthermore, the operation and construction of mines, forestry operations, and hydroelectric power plants should be banned.