The Metabetchouan River (French: Métabetchouane) is a tributary of Lac Saint-Jean in the centre of the province of Quebec, Canada. The course of this river successively crosses the regional county municipalitys (MRC) of: La Jacques-Cartier Regional County Municipality (administrative region of Capitale-Nationale): in the unorganized territory of Lac-Croche; La Tuque (administrative region of Mauricie): Lac-Saint-Jean-Est Regional County Municipality (administrative region of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean): in the unorganized territory of Lac-Moncouche; Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality (administrative region of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean): in the municipality of Saint-André-du-Lac-Saint-Jean. It ends at Desbiens, where a cave called Le trou de la Fée is located. Its source are the Mâles and Bouteille Lakes in the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve and it is long. The river has been dammed for hydroelectric power. Now, it is also a tourist river with rafting, canoeing, and fishing opportunities. It is known for its reserve of fresh-water salmon. In the region of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, this fish is known as Ouananiche. This watercourse begins in the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve. The course of this river constitutes: the western limit of the territory of the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve, between Lac Long and Métabetchouane Lake; the eastern limit of the controlled harvesting zone Zec Kiskissink and the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve; the boundary between the municipalities of Lac-Bouchette and Saint-André-du-Lac-Saint-Jean. The Métabetchouane river valley is mainly accessible by: intermediate part: forest road R0279 passing north of Saint-Henri Lake; lower part: route 169 along the south shore of lac Saint-Jean, the Trou-de-la-Fée road, the Chambord road, the rang path Saint-Hilaire. The surface of the Métabetchoune River (except the rapids zones) is usually frozen from the end of November to the beginning of April, however the safe circulation on the ice is generally done from mid-December to the end of March. Geography With an average flow of 47m³/s, it takes its source in the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve. It has several falls, including the "chute à l'Épouvante" (Fall to the Horror) and the Martine Fall. The main watersheds neighboring the Métabetchouane River are: north side: lac Saint-Jean; east side: Métabetchouane East River, rivière aux Écorces, Pikauba River, Saguenay River; south side: Batiscan River, Jacques-Cartier River; west side: Bouchette Lake, Lac des Commissaires, Ouiatchouan River, Ouellet River. The Métabetchouane river rises at the mouth of Lac des Mâles (length: ; altitude: ). This lake is enclosed between mountains, one peak of which to the east and another to in the southwest. This lake is