Leaf River (Quebec)
| Leaf River | |
| Rivière aux Feuilles | |
 |
|
| Country | Canada |
|---|---|
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Nord-du-Québec |
| Source | Lake Minto |
| - location | Nunavik |
| - elevation | 181 m (594 ft) |
| - coordinates | 57°13′07″N 75°00′45″W / 57.21861°N 75.01250°W |
| Mouth | Leaf Bay (off Ungava Bay) |
| - location | Tasiujaq |
| - elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| - coordinates | 58°46′37″N 70°04′00″W / 58.77694°N 70.06667°WCoordinates: 58°46′37″N 70°04′00″W / 58.77694°N 70.06667°W |
| Length | 480 km (300 mi) (includes Lake Minto) |
| Basin | 42,500 km2 (16,400 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| - average | 590 m3/s (20,840 cu ft/s) |
 |
|
Leaf River (French: Rivière aux Feuilles; Inuktitut: Kuugaaluk (the large river) or Itinniq (where there are spring tides)) is a river in northern Quebec, Canada, at the northern limit of the tree line. It flows from Lake Minto northeast through the Ungava Peninsula into Leaf Bay off Ungava Bay over a distance of 480 kilometres (300 mi). At the head of Leaf Bay is the Inuit community of Tasiujaq.
It is possible to paddle the whole length of the Leaf River (with caution) without portaging - it doesn't contain impassable waterfalls or non-navigable rapids. The length of the river measured from Charpentier Bay to Tasiujaq is 320 kilometres (200 mi); if measured from first discernable current, it is 288 kilometres (179 mi).
The ice-free period on the river is short: about sixty days. That implies a quite low average daily temperature in the summer (approx. 10°C) generally accompanied by rain (or snow) and wind. In short, it is an environment where hypothermia can easily occur.
The significant tributaries of the Leaf River are:
Since at least the late 19th century, the river has been known by its English name "Leaf River", which was probably derived from the Arctic willow and birch trees that grow sparsely along its banks. The Hudson's Bay Company fished there for salmon and porpoises and even opened a trading post at the mouth of the river circa 1905. In the early 20th century, the French name Rivière des Feuilles was assigned, standardized to its current form Rivière aux Feuilles in 1925.
...
Wikipedia