Rivière aux Mélèzes

[3] It forms the western part of the large basin of the Koksoak River.

The English name "Larch River" probably comes from the larch trees found in the sheltered valley of the river, which is, in less sheltered locations, as much as 400 kilometres beyond the northern limit of tree growth.

Owing to the intense glaciation, the basin is generally flat and does not rise to elevations beyond three hundred metres above sea level even after major post-glacial rebound.

The climate is polar (Köppen ET) with temperatures ranging from about −20 °C (−4 °F) in January to 8 °C (46 °F) in July.

However, the fact that for ninety percent of the Quaternary Nunavik has been covered with glacial ice up to four kilometres thick has meant that, during the very brief deglaciations, ice dams and/or moraines have tended to prevent the river from flowing westwards.