Peribonka River
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The Peribonka River is a river in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean area in Quebec, Canada. It is 451 km (280 miles) long and drains an area of 28200 km² (10900 mile²) [1]. It ends in Lac Saint-Jean at Pointe-Taillon National Park and is one of the main tributaries of this lake. The town of Péribonka is located on the north shore of Lac St-Jean at the river's mouth.
The name is derived from the Montagnais word pelipaukau, meaning "river digging through the sand" or "where there is moving sand".
[edit] History
Historically the Montagnais indigenous people lived in this area and traveled the river by canoe. Since the arrival of Europeans, extensive logging has been taking place in the river's basin. Beginning in the second half of the 20th century, it has been dammed for hydroelectric development.
The classic novel Maria Chapdelaine by French writer Louis Hémon is set on the shores of the Peribonka River.
[edit] Hydroelectric stations
There are 4 hydroelectric power stations on the Peribonka River, 3 of which privately belong to an Alcan aluminum smelter:
- Chute-du-Diable - built in 1952, 240 MW
- Chute-à-la-Savane - built in 1953, 231 MW
- Chute-des-Passes - built in 1959, 854 MW
The fourth, the Peribonka Power Station, is currently being constructed by Hydro-Québec at the confluence with the Manouane River. It is slated for completion in 2008 with a capacity of 385 MW.
