Saguenay

Saguenay, river in southern Québec province, Canada, 170 km (110 mi) long. It rises in Lac Saint-Jean and flows southeast to the St. Lawrence River, at Tadoussac. Hydroelectric facilities on the upper river, above Chicoutimi, supply power to pulp and paper mills and to a large aluminum plant at Arvida. The river widens below Chicoutimi, which is the head of navigation for large ships, and flows fjordlike between precipitous cliffs, which are 500 m (1,600 ft) high at Capes Eternity and Trinity. The scenic Saguenay Valley attracts many tourists in summer. The river mouth is also a breeding and feeding area for several different kinds of whales.