Bras Nord-Ouest facts for kids

The Bras Nord-Ouest (which means North-West Branch in English) is a small river in Quebec, Canada. It is a tributary, meaning it flows into a larger body of water. In this case, it flows into the north shore of Lac la Retenue.

The waters of the Bras Nord-Ouest eventually reach the mighty Saint Lawrence River. This river is located in the municipality of L'Ange-Gardien. This area is part of the La Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality.

The lower part of the river valley is easy to access. Streets like de la Vallée, des Montagnes, and de la Rivière run nearby.

The river's surface usually freezes in early December. It stays frozen until late March. It is generally safe to walk on the ice from mid-December to mid-March. The water level changes with the seasons and rainfall. A big spring flood often happens in March or April.

Where Does the Bras Nord-Ouest River Start?

The Bras Nord-Ouest river begins in a small forest lake. This lake is about 0.13 kilometers long. It sits at an altitude of 351 meters above sea level.

This source is found in a dip between mountain peaks. These peaks reach altitudes of 500 meters to the south and 634 meters to the southwest. The starting point is in the municipality of Château-Richer.

Key Locations Near the Source

• About 3.6 kilometers east of a bend in the Montmorency River.
• Roughly 3.1 kilometers north of where the Bras Nord-Ouest joins Lac la Retenue.
• Around 8.7 kilometers north-west of the Saint Lawrence River's north-west bank.

How Does the River Flow?

From its source, the Bras Nord-Ouest flows for about 4 kilometers. During this journey, it drops 154 meters in altitude.

The River's Path

• For the first 1.9 kilometers, it flows south-west. It moves through a deep valley and crosses a small lake. Then, it turns south before meeting a stream from the west.
• Next, it travels about 1.3 kilometers towards the south-east. It rushes down the mountain in another deep valley. It then reaches a bend where a stream from the south-west joins it.
• The final 1.6 kilometers start by flowing east through forests and then farmlands. It bends south to collect water from a small lake. It crosses another small lake before bending west at the end.

Where Does the River End?

The Bras Nord-Ouest river flows into a forested area. It enters a bay on the north shore of Lac la Retenue. The Ferrée River also flows through Lac la Retenue to the south-east.

The Journey Continues

From where the Bras Nord-Ouest joins Lac la Retenue, the water continues its journey:

• It crosses 0.5 kilometers south through Lac la Retenue. It passes through an L-shaped bay to a dam.
• Then, it flows 1.5 kilometers south through the Rivière la Retenue.
• After that, it travels about 11.5 kilometers generally south-east along the Ferrée River.
• Finally, it flows 3.2 kilometers east along the Montmorency River. This brings its waters to the north-west shore of the Saint Lawrence River.

What's in a Name?

The name "Bras Nord-Ouest" was officially recognized on March 6, 1975. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec. This commission is responsible for naming places in Quebec.

Related Places

• La Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality
• L'Ange-Gardien, a municipality
• Lac la Retenue
• Rivière du Petit Pré
• Rivière la Retenue
• Ferrée River
• Montmorency River
• List of rivers of Quebec