| Rivière à l'Ours | |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Canada |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | Quebec |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Abitibi-Témiscamingue |
| Subdivision Type4: | MRC |
| Subdivision Name4: | Témiscamingue Regional County Municipality |
| Subdivision Type5: | City |
| Subdivision Name5: | Les Lacs-du-Témiscamingue |
| Length: | 38km (24miles) |
| Source1: | Unidentified Lake |
| Source1 Location: | Les Lacs-du-Témiscamingue |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 46.4903°N -78.1536°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 393m (1,289feet) |
| Mouth: | Ottawa River |
| Mouth Location: | Les Lacs-du-Témiscamingue |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 46.2419°N -77.9625°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 142m (466feet) |
The Rivière à l'Ours is a tributary of the east bank of the Ottawa River. The Bear River crosses the unorganized territory Les Lacs-du-Témiscamingue, in the Témiscamingue Regional County Municipality, in the administrative region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, in the province of Quebec, in Canada.
From the second half of 19th century, forestry was the predominant economic activity in the sector.
The watersheds neighbors of the Bear River are:
An unnamed lake (length: ; altitude:) constitutes the head of the Bear River. This body of water is located west of Bois Franc Lake (altitude:), south of Tom Lake (altitude:) and at south of Lake Montégron (altitude:).
From this head lake, the Bear River flows for to Lake Chasy (length: ; altitude: ; formed of swamp) that the current crosses on towards the south. Then the current flows on south-west to the outlet of Lac La Noire (altitude:). Then the current flows on to the southwest, collecting the waters of Lac de la Fauvette (altitude:) and Lac Esgriseilles (altitude:), to Lac Beaubel (altitude:) which the current crosses over to the southeast.
From Lac Beaubel, the Bear River flows for to the southeast in a valley of the zec Dumoine, then to the south. The last segment of the river has several rapids. The river pours into the bottom of a bay on the east shore of Holden Lake which is crossed by the Ottawa River.
The mouth of the Bear River is located upstream of the mouth of the Petite rivière à l'Ours, upstream from the mouth of the Dumoine River and downstream from Rocher Capitaine Island.
Animals are used frequently in French Canadian toponymy. The bear is an animal respected for its character and its strength. Its meat is edible. Its bones (after having cut or sharpened them) can be used to make tools (eg scrapers) or weapons. Its skin can be used in particular for clothing, bags, blanket, carpet or shelter. The bear is the subject of several legends, generally of Aboriginal origin.
The toponym Rivière à l'Ours is associated with the neighboring watercourse (east side) which is designated Little Bear River and with the neighboring lake (east side) designated Petit lac à l'Ours.
The toponym Rivière à l'Ours was formalized on December 5, 1968 at the Place Names Bank of the Commission de toponymie du Québec.[1]