The main hydrographic slopes adjacent to the Waswanipi River are:

• North side: Nomans River, Inconnue River (Maicasagi River), Maicasagi River, La Trève River;
• East side: Chibougamau River, Opawica River;
• South side: Lake Waswanipi, O'Sullivan River, Wetetnagami River;
• West side: Matagami Lake, Bell River, Nottaway River.

The river originates in the village of Waswanipi, in the canton of Ghent, at the junction of the Chibougamau (coming from the east) and Opawica (coming from the South). This start of the Waswanipi River is located 80 kilometres (50 mi) southwest of Chapais and about 115 kilometres (71 mi) southwest of Chibougamau. A bridge spans the river at the village of Waswanipi.

From its source, the course of the river flows over 139.4 kilometres (86.6 mi) distributed as follows:

• 36.3 kilometres (22.6 mi) almost straight to the west up to a river elbow;
• 13.4 kilometres (8.3 mi) southwesterly to the northern part of Lake Waswanipi (length: 39.4 kilometres (24.5 mi); altitude: 267 metres (876 ft)) where the current bypasses several islands in a kind of delta;
• 27.5 kilometres (17.1 mi) to the north, then to the West up to the East bank of Goéland Lake (Waswanipi River);
• 21.3 kilometres (13.2 mi) to the north-west, crossing the Goéland Lake (Waswanipi River) (length: 36 kilometres (22 mi); altitude: 262 metres (860 ft));
• 30.9 kilometres (19.2 mi) to the West, forming a curve to the North, and crossing on 9.1 kilometres (5.7 mi) the Northern part of Olga Lake (Waswanipi River) (length: 27.5 kilometres (17.1 mi); altitude: 256 metres (840 ft)) up to its mouth;
• 10.0 kilometres (6.2 mi) to North-West up to the Nord-East bay of Matagami Lake.

The mouth of the Waswanipi River is located at:

• 25.1 kilometres (15.6 mi) south-east of the mouth of Matagami Lake;
• 30.5 kilometres (19.0 mi) north-east of downtown Matagami;
• 195 kilometres (121 mi) south-east of the mouth of the Nottaway River.

As early as the 18th century, the designation "Waswanipi" means a lake Waswanipi, two rivers, and a Native American group. The river has already been referred to as the "Olga River". A map of 1898 indicates "R. Waswanipi" for this watercourse. At the beginning of the 20th century, during a voyage of exploration in northern Quebec, geologist and land surveyor Henry O'Sullivan borrowed this waterway.^[2]

The toponym Waswanipi River was formalized on December 5, 1968, at the Commission de toponymie du Quebec.^[3]

• Commission de toponymie - Québec