Natchiowatchouan River

The Natchiowatchouan River is a tributary of the Nottaway River (via Lake Soscumica), in the administrative region of Nord-du-Québec, in the Canadian province of Quebec, in Canada. Most of the course of the river flows into Millet Township.

Natchiowatchouan
Watershed of Nottaway River
Location
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Eeyou Istchee Baie-James (municipality)
Physical characteristics
Source	Forested creek
• location	Eeyou Istchee Baie-James (municipality), Nord-du-Québec, Quebec
• coordinates	50°02′59″N 77°35′42″W
• elevation	265 m (869 ft)
Mouth	Nottaway River
• location	Eeyou Istchee Baie-James (municipality), Nord-du-Québec, Quebec
• coordinates	50°10′28″N 77°30′41″W
• elevation	244 m (801 ft)

Forestry is the main economic activity of the sector. Recreational tourism (especially hunting and fishing) comes second, thanks to the navigable water body of Lake Soscumica, including the tributaries.

The hydrographic slope of Lake Soscumica is accessible via the James Bay Highway (North-South direction) to 22.8 kilometres (14.2 mi) to the East. The west side of the lake is served by a winter road (North-South direction). The surface of the river is usually frozen from early November to mid-May, however, safe ice circulation is generally from mid-November to mid-April.

Geography

The main neighboring hydrographic slopes are:

• North side: Lake Soscumica, Nottaway River;
• East side: Lake Soscumica, Nottaway River;
• South side: Matagami Lake, Nottaway River, Bell River;
• West side: Deux Lacs River, Lake Montreuil, Kitchigama River.

From its source, the Natchiowatchouan River flows over 29.3 kilometres (18.2 mi) according to the following segments:

• 6.5 kilometres (4.0 mi) to the North, then to the Southwest, to a creek (coming from the South);
• 6.3 kilometres (3.9 mi) northerly to the mouth of a lake that the current flows over 0.9 kilometres (0.56 mi) to the northeast;
• 8.9 kilometres (5.5 mi) northeasterly to the Millet township boundary;
• 5.3 kilometres (3.3 mi) Northeast in the canton of Millet, to the limit of the cantons;
• 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) to the North, to the outlet of a lake (coming from the North-West);
• 0.8 kilometres (0.50 mi) southeasterly to its mouth.[1]

The Natchiowatchouan River empties onto the western shore of Soscumica Lake. This confluence is located at:

• 23.3 kilometres (14.5 mi) Southeast of the mouth of Lake Soscumica;
• 162 kilometres (101 mi) Southeast of the mouth of the Nottaway River (confluence with Rupert Bay);
• 46.4 kilometres (28.8 mi) North of downtown Matagami, Quebec;
• 14.6 kilometres (9.1 mi) North of the mouth of the Matagami Lake.

Toponymy

The toponym "Natchiowatchouan" was formalized on December 5, 1968, at the Commission de toponymie du Québec, i.e. at the creation of this commission[2]

References

1. Distances from the Department of Natural Resources Canada's Atlas of Canada (published on the Internet).
2. Commission de toponymie du Québec - Bank of Place Names - Toponym: "Natchiowatchouan"

See also

• James Bay
• Rupert Bay
• Nottaway River
• Lake Soscumica
• List of rivers of Quebec