Saguenay River

A major river in Quebec that flows from Lac Saint-Jean through the Saguenay Fjord to the Saint Lawrence River at Tadoussac.

Connect

Lac Saint-Jean: A large lake in Quebec drained by the Saguenay River. The river begins at this lake’s outlet near Alma.
Estuarine circulation: The exchange of water within an estuary driven by tides, river flow, and differences in density. It governs how Saguenay freshwater and Saint Lawrence water mix near the mouth.
Glacial erosion: The wearing away and reshaping of land by moving glacier ice and its debris. Glaciers carved the Saguenay’s deep valley and steep rock walls.
Saguenay Hydroelectric Project: A network of hydroelectric facilities developed on the Saguenay River and its tributaries. Dams and generating stations harness the region’s water flow for electricity.
Saguenay Flood: A major flood in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region in July 1996, caused by exceptional rainfall. The disaster reshaped flood planning and public understanding of risk in the basin.
Saguenay Fjord: A deep glacial valley flooded by the Saguenay River and connected to the Saint Lawrence estuary. This steep-sided fjord forms the river’s central and most distinctive reach.
Tidal bore: A wave that travels upstream through a river or estuary when a strong incoming tide meets shallow water. Strong tides near the fjord mouth can produce conspicuous upstream-moving waves.
Champlain Sea: A temporary inland sea that covered parts of eastern Canada after the last glaciation. Its retreat and postglacial changes shaped the region’s waterways and sediments.
Port of Saguenay: A deep-water port at Grande-Anse in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec. The navigable fjord gives ocean-going vessels access to this industrial port.
Shipwrecks of the Saguenay Fjord: The remains of vessels lost in the deep, navigable waters of the Saguenay Fjord. Navigation through steep, fog-prone waters has left a record of maritime accidents.