Macho River

The Macho River is a tributary of the Mégiscane River, flowing in Quebec, Canada, in the territories of:
 * Eeyou Istchee James Bay (Municipality), in the administrative region of Nord-du-Québec;
 * Senneterre, in La Vallée-de-l'Or Regional County Municipality, in the administrative region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, where the course of the river crosses successively the cantons of Souart, Masères, Closse, Maricourt and Berthelot.

The Macho River flows entirely in forested territory north-east of the La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve and on the west side of Gouin Reservoir. Forestry is the main economic activity of this hydrographic slope; recreational tourism activities, second.

The surface of the river is usually frozen from mid-December to mid-April. The course of this river has a difference in height of only five meters.

Geography
• The Macho River originates at the southern limit of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay (municipality) administrative region in a large swamp area. Its course begins with a widening of the river (elevation: 390 m), located at 0.4 km south-east of the Panache River which sinks to the southwest, to discharge on the north bank of the Wetetnagami River.

• This source of the river is located at:

• 0.9 km south-east of route 105B going up to the northeast [Panache River];

• 60.8 km north of the confluence of the Macho River with Berthelot Lake (Mégiscane River);

• 132.8 km north-east of downtown Senneterre;

• 73.7 km northwest of the village center of Obedjiwan;

• 93.0 km north of the Canadian National Railway.

• The main hydrographic slopes near the Macho River are:

• North side: Panache River, Fortier River;

• east side: Barry Lake (Saint-Cyr River South), Saint-Cyr River South, Saint-Cyr Lake (Saint-Cyr River South), Mégiscane Lake, Mégiscane River;

• South side: Mégiscane River, Berthelot lake;

• West side: Wetetnagami River, Saint-Père River, Wetetnagami Lake, Achepabanca River, Achepabanca River Northeast.

• From its source, the Macho River flows over 69.6 km according to the following segments:

• Upper Macho River (segment of 46.7 km)

• 9.8 km to the south surrounded by marsh areas, and enters the administrative region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, to the north shore of Loutres Lake;

• 7.7 km southerly crossing Loutres Lake (elevation: 387 m) to its mouth on the west shore;

• 10.9 km southwesterly through marsh areas on each side of the river to the north shore of Maseres Lake;

• 18.3 km southerly, crossing Maseres Lake (elevation: 385 m) to its mouth;

• Lower Macho River (segment of 26.0 km)

• 5.6 km southerly, including crossing the unidentified lake (elevation: 385 m) consisting of a widening of the river to its mouth;

• 7.2 km southwesterly, then south, to the north shore of Maricourt Lake (Macho River);

• 6.9 km southerly crossing the northern portion of Maricourt Lake (Macho River) (elevation: 385 m) along its entire length, to a straight line formed by the reconciliation of two opposite peninsulas. Note: The Closse River (coming from the East) flows on the east shore of the northern part of this lake;

• 6.3 km southerly, crossing the southern portion of Maricourt Lake (Macho River), to the confluence of the river.

• The Macho River discharges at the bottom of a bay on the north shore of Berthelot Lake (elevation: 385 m which empties onto the north shore of the Mégiscane River The latter is a tributary of Parent Lake (Abitibi) .This latter lake empties into the Bell River, a tributary of Matagami Lake. in turn flows into the Nottaway River, a tributary of the southeast shore of James Bay.

• This confluence of the Macho River with Berthelot Lake (Mégiscane River) is located opposite the confluence of the Berthelot River (Mégiscane River); upstream of Rapides Manidioc and the confluence of the Achepabanca River; and downstream of the confluence of the Whitegoose River. Specifically, the Macho River flows to:

• 62.5 km East of the confluence of the Mégiscane River with Parent Lake (Abitibi);

• 36.1 km north of the former Gagnon-Siding Railway Station of the Canadian National Railway;

• 86.8 km north-east of the village center of Senneterre;

• 51.0 km west of Gouin Reservoir.

Toponymy
The toponym "Macho River" was formalized on December 5, 1968, at the Commission de toponymie du Québec.