The Manicouagan or Manicuagan River, often clipped to Manic, is a river in Côte-Nord region of Quebec, Canada. The river originates in the Manicouagan Reservoir and flows approximately south, emptying into the Saint Lawrence River near Baie-Comeau.

Name

The river's name is believed to come from a Montagnais name meaning "Place where Tree Bark is Found". However the Innu of Betsiamites call it Menukuanistuk Shipu, meaning "River of the Cup".

Tributaries

The major tributaries of the Manicouagan River are in upstream order:

  • Toulnustouc River
  • Isoukustouc River
  • Fontmarais River
  • Lemay River
  • Manicouagan Reservoir
  • Mouchalagane River
  • Seignelay River
  • Hart Jaune River
  • Themines River
  • Petite Riviere Manicouagan

History

thumb|left|200px|Surveying the Manicouagan River at the first falls, 1919

At the end of August 1535, Jacques Cartier, while sailing south, noted the mouth of this large river but gave it no name. In June 1664, Jesuit Henri Nouvel was the first missionary to travel upstream of the "Grand Manikouaganistikou River that the French call rivière Noire because of its depth". The next year, he "returned to the mouth of the Manicoüagan in June." The river's spelling has remained fairly constant from then on.

  • McCormick generating station - 335 MW, owned by Hydro-Québec and Alcoa.
  • Manic 1 generating station - 184 MW, operated by Hydro-Québec.
  • Jean-Lesage generating station, formerly Manic-2 Power Station - 1024 MW, operated by Hydro-Québec.
  • René-Lévesque generating station, formerly Manic-3 Power Station - 1244 MW, operated by Hydro-Québec.
  • Manic 4 - Abandoned project
  • Daniel-Johnson Dam:
  • Manic-5 generating station - 1592 MW, operated by Hydro-Québec.
  • Manic-5-PA generating station - 1064 MW, operated by Hydro-Québec.

References

  • Hydro-Québec Manicouagan map