Passes-Dangereuses
Passes-Dangereuses (until May 2009: Chute-des-Passes) is an unorganized territory in the Canadian province of Quebec, located between the Peribonka River on the east and the Mistassibi River on the west. Geography. The territory, part of the regional county municipality of Maria-Chapdelaine, covered a land area of and had a population of 210 as of the Canada 2021 Census, all living in the village of Sainte-Élisabeth-de-Proulx (), which is north-east of Dolbeau-Mistassini in the geographic township of Proulx. Toponymy. The territory was formed in January 1981, and was then known as  Lac-Saint-Jean-Ouest, partie Chute-des-Passes. This was shortened to Chute-des-Passes in August 1986. On May 23, 2009, the territory was renamed to Passes-Dangereuses in order to avoid confusion with the hamlet of Chute-des-Passes in the neighbouring Unorganized Territory of Mont-Valin. The territory's name "Passes-Dangereuses" (French for "dangerous pass") refers to a series of rapids and chutes that stir up the Peribonka River for a distance of about from Lake Peribonka's outlet downstream. This section of the river flows through impressive escarpments of over high and was first identified  as "the nasty portage" by Jesuit Pierre-Michel Laure on his map of 1731. The following year, this missionary used the First Nations name "Katchiskataouakigs", also used by Bellin on his map of 1744. A map of Jonathan Carver from 1776 indicated "Falls and Rift" to characterize the place. Not until the end of the 19th century did the current toponym begin to appear on survey maps. In 1941, Alcan built at the head of these rapids a dam called Chute-des-Passes, forming Lake Peribonka behind it. The dam's name also refers to the nearby hamlet that formed  the east side of the river, and was the former name of Passes-Dangereuses Territory. Demographics. Population trend: Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 104 (total dwellings: 151)