Kipawa River

Geobox River
name = Kipawa River
native_name =
other_name = Rivière Kipawa
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image_size = 230px
image_caption = Kipawa River during low water level, as seen from the Laniel Dam
country = Canada
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state = Quebec
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region = Abitibi-Témiscamingue
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length = 180
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source_name = Lac Dumoine
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mouth_name = Ottawa River
mouth_location = Lake Timiskaming
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The Kipawa River (in French: "Rivière Kipawa") is a short river in western Quebec, Canada. It is mostly an undeveloped river but the larger lakes have dams, fishing camps, and cottages on their shores. The communities of Kipawa and Laniel are located on Lake Kipawa. Also much logging takes place within its watershed basin, which is consequently crisscrossed by many bush roads. Route 101 crosses the river at Laniel.

The Kipawa River drops m to ft|90|precision=0|abbr=yes over the last km to mi|16|precision=0|abbr=yes from Lake Kipawa to its mouth which results in many whitewater rapids, making it popular with kayakers and canoeists. Since 1986, the Kipawa River Ralley has been held annually over this stretch of the river.

Significant lakes along the Kipawa (in downstream order):
*Grassy Lake (Lac aux Foins)
*Watson Lake
*Wolf Lake (Lac des Loups)
*Lac Sairs
*Grindstone Lake
*Hunter Lake
*Lake Kipawa

Significant tributaries are:
*Audoin River
*Rivière des Lacs

Its name is derived from the Anishnabe word "Kebaouek" meaning "at the narrows beyond which more water opens out". [ [http://www.algonquincanoe.com/paddling_routes.asp Algonquin Canoe website - Kipawa River] ]

History

The first reference to the river comes from a Catholic priest who in the early 19th century used it to travel upstream to build a mission on Lake Kipawa for Algonquin native Americans. [http://www.kipawariver.ca/eng/index.html Friends of the Kipawa River] ]

The first recorded whitewater run on the Kipawa was in 1971 when Jose Mediavilla and Joseph Jacob from Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, paddled downstream using an open canoe. Mediavilla continued to run it over the years, and by 1976 he was using the river for the practice portion of his whitewater certification courses, sanctioned by the provincial whitewater organization.

The Kipawa River is currently under threat of hydroelectric development by Hydro-Québec which plans to divert the river and would completely alter its natural flow. [http://www.grandriver.ca/RiverConferenceProceedings/KarwackiP.pdf]

References

External links

* [http://www.kipawariver.ca/eng/index.html Friends of the Kipawa River]
* [http://www.kipawa.com/ Travel guide to Kipawa area]