Noire River
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The Noire River (also known as Black River) is a river in western Quebec, Canada. It runs in a south-eastern direction into the Ottawa River at Waltham, Quebec. It is named after the dark colour of its water (noire is French for "Black").
This river is often grouped together with the Dumoine and Coulonge Rivers as three of a kind. All three are in the same area, have similar characteristics, and are very popular with whitewater canoers.
The Noire River flows through Quebec's portion of the Canadian Shield and so, is marked by sections of rocky whitewater alternated by meandering sections through sand valleys. Typical trees in this area are Black Spruce, Jack Pine, Eastern White Pine, Red Pine, juniper, alder, and birch. The river is undeveloped except the last 30 km, where cottages and even an inn line the river. Just before it flows into the Ottawa River, there is dam with a power generating station on the Noire River.
[edit] Paddling the Noire River
The Noire River is not navigable until the confluence with Coughlin Creek, about 237 km from its end. From here, the rapids that can be run are mostly Class 1 or 2 (based on medium water levels). Notable rapids on the Noire are:
- km 114, "The Wall" - technical Class 2.
- km 100, "Targie" - Class 3 to 2.
- km 51, "50-50" - Class 3.
- km 40 to 30 - continuous Class 1 and swifts (except low water)
One portage of note is the one around Mountain Chute. One has to take either a long route through arduous terrain or a shorter one that begins at the top of the falls and ends in a steep near-vertical descent requiring ropes.
[edit] References
- Hap Wilson, Rivers of the Upper Ottawa Valley, 1993, ISBN 1-895465-05-2
