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 metres (1,280 ft)), located at 0.4 kilometres (0.25 mi) 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 kilometres (0.56 mi) south-east of route 105B going up to the northeast [Panache River];
From its source, the Macho River flows over 69.6 kilometres (43.2 mi) according to the following segments:
Upper Macho River (segment of 46.7 kilometres (29.0 mi))
9.8 kilometres (6.1 mi) to the south surrounded by marsh areas, and enters the administrative region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, to the north shore of Loutres Lake;
7.7 kilometres (4.8 mi) southerly crossing Loutres Lake (elevation: 387 metres (1,270 ft)) to its mouth on the west shore;
10.9 kilometres (6.8 mi) southwesterly through marsh areas on each side of the river to the north shore of Maseres Lake;
18.3 kilometres (11.4 mi) southerly, crossing Maseres Lake (elevation: 385 metres (1,263 ft)) to its mouth;
Lower Macho River (segment of 26.0 kilometres (16.2 mi))
5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi) southerly, including crossing the unidentified lake (elevation: 385 metres (1,263 ft)) consisting of a widening of the river to its mouth;
6.9 kilometres (4.3 mi) southerly crossing the northern portion of Maricourt Lake (Macho River) (elevation: 385 metres (1,263 ft)) 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 kilometres (3.9 mi) southerly, crossing the southern portion of Maricourt Lake (Macho River), to the confluence of the river.[2]
The Macho River discharges at the bottom of a bay on the north shore of Berthelot Lake (elevation: 385 metres (1,263 ft) 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.
