The Rivière à l'Ours Ouest (English: West Bear River) is a tributary of the rivière à l'Ours, flowing in the municipality of Havre-Saint-Pierre, in the Minganie Regional County Municipality, in the administrative region of Côte-Nord, in the province of Quebec, in Canada.

Except for the route 138 serving the lower part of the Bear River, this valley is served by winter snowmobile routes.[1]

The surface of the West Bear River is usually frozen from the beginning of November to the end of April, except the rapids areas; however, traffic on the ice is generally safe from late November to early April.

Geography

The West Bear River takes its source from an unidentified lake (length: 2.5 km (1.6 mi); altitude: 119 m (390 ft)) located in Havre-Saint-Pierre. This head lake surrounded by a set of small lakes. The mouth of this head lake is located on the northeast shore. This mouth is located at:

• 40.3 km (25.0 mi) north-east of downtown Havre-Saint-Pierre;
• 24.9 km (15.5 mi) north-west of the mouth of the Bear River.[2]

From the mouth of the head lake, the West Bear River flows over 28.4 km (17.6 mi) with a drop of 79.6 m (261 ft), especially in forest areas, according to following segments:

• 1.5 km (0.93 mi) towards the north-east by crossing four small lakes, then towards the south-east by crossing the fourth lake, to its mouth;
• 7.7 km (4.8 mi) south-east across Lake Cormier (length: 6.8 km (4.2 mi); altitude: 87.9 m (288 ft)), to its mouth;
• 3.3 km (2.1 mi) south-east across Lake Mannier (length: 2.9 km (1.8 mi); altitude: 85.6 m (281 ft)), to its mouth;
• 3.4 km (2.1 mi) south-east crossing Little Uatnakantuk lake (length: 3.3 km (2.1 mi); altitude: 76 m (249 ft)), up to its mouth;
• 2.2 km (1.4 mi) south-east, up to the outlet of the detour stream (coming from the south-west);
• 8.6 km (5.3 mi) first towards the south-east, then towards the east by forming a few loops, crossing areas of marsh, up to a river (coming from the north-west);
• 1.7 km (1.1 mi) to the east, forming a hook towards the north, to its mouth.[2]

The West Bear River flows onto the southwest bank of the Rivière à l'Ours, in an area where there are several marsh areas. This confluence is located at:

• 2.1 km (1.3 mi) north of route 138;
• 4.3 km (2.7 mi) north-west of the mouth of Rivière à l'Ours;
• 21.1 km (13.1 mi) south-west of Baie-Johan-Beetz;
• 37 km (23 mi) north-east of the village center of Havre-Saint-Pierre.[2]

From the mouth of the West Bear River, the current follows the course of the Bear River on 5.8 km (3.6 mi) towards the south-east, then crosses on 2.9 km (1.8 mi) east of Victor Bay until bypassing Victor Island, which is part of the north shore of the Estuary of Saint Lawrence.[2]

Toponymy

The toponym "Rivière à l'Ours Ouest" was formalized on December 5, 1968, at the Place Names Bank of the Commission de toponymie du Québec.[3]

See also

• List of rivers of Quebec

References