While the lower section of the river (after Lac Bienville) has a very powerful current, with many waterfalls (up to 15 metres (49 ft) or 20 metres (66 ft) in height) and rapids, the upper section consists of a series of lakes interconnected by steep rapids and ledges.

[2] The Great Whale River was a place favored by the Cree and Inuit for hunting beluga long before the arrival of Europeans.

Even though both were nomadic, the mouth of the river was often an encampment site and served as unofficial border.

The entry for July 25 made the first mention of the "Great White Whail [sic] River".

[3] Although detailed planning for the project was only begun in 1986, opposition from Crees, Inuit, environmental organizations like Greenpeace and the Friends of the Earth and other activists led the Premier of Quebec, Jacques Parizeau, to announce in November 1994, that the project was suspended indefinitely.