Tonnerre River (Normandin River tributary)
# Tonnerre River (Normandin River tributary)

The rivière au Tonnerre (English: Tonnerre River) is a tributary of the Normandin River, flowing into the unorganized territory of Lac-Ashuapmushuan, Quebec in the Regional County Municipality (RCM) of Le Domaine-du-Roy, in the administrative region of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, in Quebec, in Canada.

The Tonnerre River flows entirely in the Township of Ducharme. Forestry is the main economic activity of this valley; recreational tourism activities, second.

The route 167 (northwesterly) connecting Chibougamau to Saint-Félicien, Quebec cuts the middle of the Tonnerre River. The Canadian National Railway runs along this road.

The surface of the Tonnerre River is usually frozen from early November to mid-May, however, safe ice circulation is generally from mid-November to mid-April.

## Geography

* North side: Coquille River, Coquille Lake, Boisvert River (Normandin River), Armitage River;
* East side: Chaudière River (Normandin River), Atouk Creek, Little Chef's River;
* South side: Bouteville Creek, Normandin River, Poutrincourt Lake, Marquette River West;
* West side: Nicabau Lake, Rohault Lake, Bouteroue Lake, Boisvert River (Normandin River).

The Tonnerre River originates at the mouth of "Île Ronde Lake" (length: 2.8 kilometres (1.7 mi) width: 0.5 kilometres (0.31 mi) altitude: 406 metres (1,332 ft)) in the township of Ducharme. The mouth of this head lake is located at:

* 5.2 kilometres (3.2 mi) north-east of Nicabau Lake;
* 9.1 kilometres (5.7 mi) north of the mouth of the "Tonnerre River" (confluence with the Normandin River);
* 23.4 kilometres (14.5 mi) south-east of Obatogamau Lakes;
* 32.1 kilometres (19.9 mi) northwest of the mouth of the Normandin River (confluence with Ashuapmushuan Lake);
* 152.8 kilometres (94.9 mi) northwest of the mouth of the Ashuapmushuan River (confluence with Lac Saint-Jean).

From the mouth of Round Island Lake, the "Tonnerre River" flows over 12.6 kilometres (7.8 mi), according to the following segments:

* 2.3 kilometres (1.4 mi) towards the Southwest, to the dump (coming from the North-West) of the Crouton lakes, the Pooh, the Bannock, Astier and Carei;
* 2.7 kilometres (1.7 mi) southeasterly to the outlet (from the southeast) of Wilfrid Lake;
* 2.8 kilometres (1.7 mi) southwesterly to route 167;
* 2.1 kilometres (1.3 mi) south by cutting the Canadian National Railway, then crossing Harquail Lake (length: 2.3 kilometres (1.4 mi); altitude: 392 metres (1,286 ft)), to its mouth;
* 2.7 kilometres (1.7 mi) southerly crossing Verreault Lake (elevation: 389 kilometres (242 mi)) along its entire length to its mouth. Note: This lake is also fed by the outlet (coming from the North-East) of Jacques-Drouin, Guitare and Hassels lakes.

The confluence of the "Tonnerre River" with the Normandin River is located at:

* 1.0 kilometre (0.62 mi) downstream north-east of the mouth of Nicabau Lake which is crossed by the Normandin River;
* 26.0 kilometres (16.2 mi) south-west of the mouth of the Normandin River (confluence with Ashuapmushuan Lake);
* 147.8 kilometres (91.8 mi) west of the mouth of the Ashuapmushuan River (confluence with the lac Saint-Jean);
* 186.7 kilometres (116.0 mi) northwest of the mouth of lac Saint-Jean (confluence with the Saguenay River).

## Toponymy

The term "Normandin" is a family name of French origin.

The toponym "Rivière au Tonnerre" was formalized on June 8, 1971, at the Commission de toponymie du Québec.

