Saguenay River

The Saguenay River is a major waterway in Quebec, Canada. It flows from the Laurentian Highlands and drains Lac Saint-Jean. The river travels east until it reaches the Saint Lawrence River. This river is famous for its high flow-rate and steep cliffs. These cliffs are part of a geological feature called the Saguenay Graben. The river forms a fjord, which is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides. Tide waters move deep into this fjord. These tides can reach as far upriver as the city of Chicoutimi, about 100 kilometres from the mouth.

The river begins with a complex system of channels near the town of Alma. Two main channels are named La Petite Décharge and La Grande Décharge. An island sits where these two channels meet. This island is part of the municipality of Alma. At this starting point, the water is freshwater. The Grande Décharge channel holds the dam for the Île Maligne hydroelectric plant. Once these channels meet east of Alma, the Saguenay River officially begins. It starts as a reservoir that is several kilometres long. This is different from the rapids and falls that existed before dams were built.

As the river moves downstream, it changes shape and splits again. Near the area of Shipshaw, the river divides into two paths. The northern path contains the Shipshaw hydroelectric station. The southern path contains the Chute-à-Caron power plant. The Aluminum Bridge is located in this section. The two paths eventually join together between Chicoutimi and Jonquière. At this point, the river becomes deep enough for navigation. The name Chicoutimi actually means "how deep is it" in the Innu-aimun language.

Human history in the Saguenay region spans thousands of years. First Nations people, including the Innu, inhabited the Saguenay Fjord long before Europeans arrived. Jacques Cartier was the first European to visit the area in 1535. Later, Samuel de Champlain established a fort in 1608 near present-day Quebec City. Following this, many Indigenous groups traded along the river. These groups included the Innu, Haudenosaunee, Huron, Algonquins, and Cree. The river takes its name from the legendary Kingdom of Saguenay. This name is also used by the Saguenay Herald of the Canadian Heraldic Authority.

The river has been vital to the local economy for many centuries. During the 19th century, the logging and pulp and paper industries used the river for transport. Today, the river provides significant energy through hydroelectricity. A dam on the upper Saguenay generates power for local industries. This includes aluminum smelting and various paper mills. The river's natural features also support a major tourism industry. Many people visit the town of Tadoussac for whale watching and sea kayaking.

The ecosystem at the mouth of the river is very productive. The waters are cold, which attracts many different species. Many beluga whales use these waters for breeding. Greenland sharks also frequent the deep parts of the river. Because of this rich wildlife, the area where the Saguenay meets the Saint Lawrence is protected. This area is the Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park, which is one of Canada's national parks. The park helps ensure that the marine life remains safe in these waters.

Natural events have also shaped the river and its environment. In July 1996, the region experienced the Saguenay Flood. This happened when tributary rivers flooded severely. It was one of the costliest natural disasters in Canadian history. However, the flood had an unexpected effect on the riverbed. The floodwaters covered heavily-contaminated sediments at the bottom of the river. They replaced them with new, relatively clean sediments. Research shows that these old sediments are no longer a threat to the local ecosystems.