La Grande River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids La Grande River |
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La Grande River near Radisson, Quebec.
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La Grande River original basin in yellow. Diverted basins in orange.
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Jamésie |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lac Nichicun Nitchequon 53°12′30″N 70°56′00″W / 53.20833°N 70.93333°W |
| River mouth | James Bay Chisasibi 0 m (0 ft) 53°50′00″N 79°04′00″W / 53.83333°N 79.06667°W |
| Length | 893 km (555 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 97,600 km2 (37,700 sq mi) |
La Grande River (French: La Grande Rivière, Cree: Chisasibi, both meaning "great river") is a river in northwestern Quebec, Canada, which rises in the highlands of north central Quebec and flows roughly 900 kilometres (560 mi) west to drain into James Bay. It is the second largest river in Quebec, surpassed only by the Saint Lawrence River.
Originally, the La Grande River drained an area of 97,400 square kilometres (37,600 sq mi) and had a mean discharge of 1,690 m3/s (60,000 cu ft/s). Since the 1980s when hydroelectric development diverted the Eastmain and Caniapiscau rivers into the La Grande, its total catchment area has increased to about 175,000 square kilometres (68,000 sq mi), and its mean discharge increased to more than 3,400 m3/s (120,000 cu ft/s). In November 2009, the Rupert River was also partially diverted, adding another 31,430 square kilometres (12,140 sq mi) to the basin.
At one time, this river was known as the "Fort George River". The Hudson's Bay Company operated a trading post on the river at Big River House from 1803 to 1824. In 1837, a large trading post was established at Fort George on an island at the mouth of the river. In the early 20th century, this trading post became a village as the Crees of the James Bay region abandoned their nomadic way of life and settled nearby. The modern Cree village of Chisasibi, which replaced Fort George in 1980, is situated on the southern shore of the La Grande River, several kilometers to the East.
Tributaries
Significant tributaries of La Grande River include:
- Kanaaupscow River
- Sakami River
- Eastmain River (diverted)
- Opinaca River
- Rupert River (diverted)
- Eastmain River (diverted)
- Rivière de Pontois
- Rivière de la Corvette
- Laforge River
- Caniapiscau River (diverted)
See also
In Spanish: Río La Grande para niños
