Betsiamites River

The Betsiamites (also called Bersimis) is a river of Côte-Nord, Quebec, Canada, which joins the Saint Lawrence River.

Betsiamites River
Drainage basin in yellow
Location
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, Côte-Nord
Physical characteristics
Source	Lake Manouanis
• location	Mont-Valin
• coordinates	50°45′10″N 70°19′20″W
Mouth	Saint Lawrence River
• location	Betsiamites FN Reserve
• coordinates	48°56′00″N 68°37′20″W
• elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Length	444 km (276 mi)to head of Manouanis River [1]
Basin size	18,700 km2 (7,200 sq mi)[1]
Discharge
• average	340 m3/s (12,000 cu ft/s)[1]

The 978 square kilometres (378 sq mi) Pipmuacan Reservoir, impounded by the Bersimis-1 Dam, is roughly halfway down its course.^[2]

Hydro-electric facilities

There are two hydro-electric power stations and dams on the Betsiamites, owned by Hydro-Québec:

• Bersimis-1 generating station: 1,125 MW; constructed in 1956
• Bersimis-2 generating station: 845 MW; constructed in 1959