Rupert River

Rupert River
Drainage basin of the Rupert River. Current basin in yellow. Diverted basin to the Eastmain and La Grande Rivers in orange. Original basin in yellow and orange.
Native name	Rivière Rupert (French)
Location
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Nord-du-Québec
Physical characteristics
Source	Lake Mistassini
• coordinates	50°57′0″N 73°42′0″W / 50.95000°N 73.70000°W / 50.95000; -73.70000
Mouth	Rupert Bay
• location	Waskaganish
• coordinates	51°29′0″N 78°46′0″W / 51.48333°N 78.76667°W / 51.48333; -78.76667
Length	763 km (474 mi)[1]
Basin size	43,400 km2 (16,800 sq mi)[2]
Discharge
• average	900 m3/s (32,000 cu ft/s)
Discharge
• location	Lake Mistassini outlet
• average	434 m3/s (15,300 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	(upstream) Kaupuschun creek Chikaskutakanich creek Gaulier creek Nastimistech creek Kaipeyach creek Tordu creek Wapamiskushish creek Kaumwakweyuch creek outlet of lake Mézières outlet of lake Du Détour Kawaiskamichisi creek La Marte River outlet of a set of unidentified lakes outlet of a set of unidentified lakes.
• right	(upstream) Chikaskutckanish creek Kaneusteko creek Kaneusteko Takutachun creek Papimichunich Kamachisteweyach creek Papimichun Takutachun creek Kapapimichun Takutachun creek Puysh creek) (via the Bras Sipastikw) Itahunan creek (via the Bras Sipastikw) Kapisiyatiwakamiuch creek Jolliet River Nemiscau River (via Nemiscau Lake) Kawasachuck creek Lemare River outlet of lake Kawaskekamach Kayechischekaw creek.

The Rupert River is one of the largest rivers in Quebec, Canada. From its headwaters in Lake Mistassini, the largest natural lake in Quebec, it flows 556 kilometres (345 mi) west into Rupert Bay on James Bay. The Rupert drains an area of 43,400 square kilometres (16,800 sq mi).

There is some extremely large whitewater on the river, but paddlers can avoid much of it by portage routes on the side. The most impressive falls, which cannot be avoided except by portaging, are the "Oatmeal Rapids" right at the James Bay Road (a set of cascades dropping 18 m (59 ft)) and "The Fours" near the end of the river (a 24 m (79 ft) drop).^{[citation needed]}

The Rupert has long been an important river for the Cree of the area.^{[further explanation needed]} Every year, a group of Cree youth from the village of Waskaganish, at the mouth of the Rupert, travel up the river to Lake Nemiscau.

Major tributaries of the Rupert are (in downstream order):

• Natastan River (Rivière Natastan)
• Lemare River (Rivière Lemare) - 1,290 km² (500 sq mi) subbasin
• Marten River (Rivière à la Marte) - 4,505 km² (1,739 sq mi) subbasin
• Nemiscau River (Rivière Nemiscau) - 3,015 km² (1,164 sq mi) subbasin