Rivière-aux-Outardes is an unorganized territory in the Côte-Nord

Côte-Nord

Côte-Nord is the second largest administrative region by land area in Quebec, Canada, after Nord-du-Québec...

 region of Quebec, Canada. It makes up almost 95% of the Manicouagan Regional County Municipality

Manicouagan Regional County Municipality, Quebec

Manicouagan is a Regional County Municipality in the Côte-Nord region of Quebec, Canada. It is located on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River with its seat in Baie-Comeau...

.

The eponymous Outardes River is nearly 400 kilometres (248.5 mi) long, and flows through the territory in a north-south direction before draining into Outardes Bay at Ragueneau

Ragueneau, Quebec

Ragueneau is a parish municipality in Quebec, Canada, on Outardes Bay on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River.-History:The first settlers arrived in 1920, mostly from Saint-Paul-du-Nord, Les Escoumins, and Sainte-Anne-de-Portneuf. That same year, Ragueneau Township was proclaimed and named...

. The other major river in the territory is the Manicouagan River

Manicouagan River

The Manicouagan River is a river in Côte-Nord region of Quebec, Canada. The river originates at the Daniel-Johnson Dam of the Manicouagan Reservoir and flows approximately south, emptying into the Saint Lawrence River near Baie-Comeau...

 that flows parallel and east of the Outardes River. Both these rivers are developed with large-scale hydroelectric

Hydroelectricity

Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...

 installations, part of the Manic-Outardes Project.

The Manicouagan Reservoir

Manicouagan Reservoir

Manicouagan Reservoir is an annular lake in central Quebec, Canada. The lake covers an area of 1,942 km², and its eastern shore is accessible via Route 389. The island in the centre of the lake is known as René-Levasseur Island, and its highest point is Mount Babel...

, a circular lake that covers the Manicouagan crater

Manicouagan crater

The Manicouagan Crater is one of the oldest known impact craters and is located primarily in Manicouagan Regional County Municipality in the Côte-Nord region of Québec, Canada, about north of the city of Baie-Comeau. Its northernmost part is located in Caniapiscau Regional County Municipality...

, is almost entirely located within the territory.

Quebec Route 389

Quebec route 389

Quebec's Route 389 connects Route 138 adjacent to Baie-Comeau with the Newfoundland and Labrador border, connecting with the Trans-Labrador Highway to Wabush and Labrador City, and beyond to Goose Bay...

, running for a large part between the Outardes and Manicouagan Rivers, provides access to the territory and the hydroelectric installations along these rivers. It is an isolated highway with few roadside services that are great distances apart.

Demographics

Population:

• Population in 2006: 134 (2001 to 2006 population change: 179.2 %)
• Population in 2001: 48
• Population in 1996: 59
• Population in 1991: 32

Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 77 (total dwellings: 132)