Leaf River
From its source in Minto Lake near Hudson Bay, the Rivière aux Feuilles flows towards Ungava Bay. Its 480-kilometre journey marks the boundary between arctic tundra and boreal forest, crossing Nunavik from one end to the other. With its crystal-clear waters and breathtaking scenery, it is one of the icons of raw beauty in Northern Quebec.
The Rivière aux Feuilles has always been an important communication route for the Inuit people. Several ancient campsites can still be seen along its banks. Explorers, prospectors and fur traders also used it. The river owes its name to the leaves of a variety of northern willow, which caribou feed on. This is the heart of the habitat of Nunavik's second largest herd, numbering 350,000 animals. Fishermen may also come across musk oxen, willow ptarmigan (white partridge), black bears and wolves.
The Rivière aux Feuilles marks the northern limit of Atlantic salmon reproduction in Canada. The extremely combative animals can weigh up to nine kilos. Other species that thrive in its clear waters include brook trout, as well as world-class speckled and lake trout. Seals also sometimes travel upstream as far as the 100th kilometer. The bed of the Rivière aux Feuilles is made up of huge boulders, forming rapids where the flow is particularly powerful. At its mouth, near the village of Tasiujaq, the tides are the highest in the world, reaching 18 metres.
The Rivière aux Feuilles outfitter offers six pools for anglers, promising a unique adventure in the heart of spectacular, untamed nature.
