Porc-Épic River

The Porc-Épic River is a tributary of the Malbaie River, flowing into the unorganized territory of Lac-Pikauba, in Charlevoix Regional County Municipality, in the Capitale-Nationale administrative region, in the province of Quebec, in Canada. Most of the Porc-Épic River flows into the territory of the Zec des Martres, except for the last 1.6 km before reaching its mouth.

The hydrographic slope of the Porc-Épic River is served mainly by a secondary forest road that goes up this valley for forestry and recreational tourism purposes.

Forestry is the main economic activity of the sector; recreational tourism activities, second.

The surface of the Porc-Épic River is usually frozen from early December to late March, however, safe ice movement is generally from mid-December to mid-March.

Geography
The mouth of the Porc-Épic River is located between the territories of the Grands-Jardins National Park and Hautes-Gorges-de-la-Rivière-Malbaie National Park; between Ha! Ha! Lake and the Lac des Martres.

The main hydrographic slopes near the Porc-Épic River are:
 * north side: Malbaie River, Cran Rouge Creek, Moreau Lake, Des Martres River;
 * east side: Beaulieu Lake, Lac des Martres, Barley Lake, Rivière du Gouffre;
 * south side: Cold Creek, Hache Lake, Coq Lake, Barley River, Malbaie River;
 * west side: Malbaie River, La Cruche Lake, La Cruche River, Ha! Ha! River.

The Porc-Épic River originates at the mouth of Lac de la Hache (length: 0.7 km; altitude: 712 m). The mouth of this lake is located at:
 * 3.1 km west of a bay of Lac des Martres;
 * 3.7 km east of a curve of the Malbaie River;
 * 3.7 km northeast of the Barley [river];
 * 7.8 km south-west of Beaulieu Lake;
 * 7.8 km northwest of Little Malbaie Lake, head lake of the Little Malbaie River;
 * 10.2 km south-west of a curve of the upper course of the Rivière du Gouffre;
 * 6.6 km south-east of the confluence of the Porc-Épic River and the Malbaie River.

From its source (Pimpant Lake), the Porc-Épic River descends on 9.2 km entirely in forested and mountainous zones, with a difference of 127 m according to the following segments:
 * 1.5 km northerly crossing an unidentified lake (length: 0.6 km; altitude: 933 km) surrounded by marshes, up to the discharge (coming from the east) of Beaulieu Lake;
 * 2.7 km in a steep valley, first to the north, curving east, then north again, collecting a stream (from the northwest), a stream (coming from the northeast);
 * 1.5 km to the northwest forming two small hooks, to the discharge (from the east) of the lake of the titmouse;
 * 2.5 km northwesterly to the outlet (from the north) of an unidentified lake enclosed by mountains;
 * 1.0 km westerly in a steep valley to its mouth.

The Porc-Épic River flows into a swirl zone on the west bank of the Malbaie River. This confluence is located at:
 * 0.7 km upstream of the mouth of the La Cruche River;
 * 3.2 km northeast of the mouth of La Cruche Lake;
 * 8.2 km east of the Ha! Ha! River;
 * 7.9 km north-west of lac des Martres;
 * 11.8 km southeast of Little Ha! Ha! Lake;
 * 51.2 km west of the confluence of the Malbaie River and the St. Lawrence River.

From the confluence of the Porc-Épic River, the current flows down the Malbaie River to 91.1 km east, then south-east, which flows over the northwest shore of the St. Lawrence River.

Toponymy
The name "Porc-Épic River" appears in the Dictionary of Rivers and Lakes of the Province of Quebec, 1925, page 141. This name was approved on 1963-07-03 by the Commission de géographie du Québec.

The toponym "Porc-Épic River" was formalized on December 5, 1968, at the Bank of Place Names of the Commission de toponymie du Quebec.