Bras d'Isaïe facts for kids

The Bras d'Isaïe (which means "arm of Isaiah" in English) is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows through an area called Lac-Ministuk, which is an unorganized territory. This means it's a large area of land without a local government like a town or city.

The river is part of the Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality and the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region. It's a smaller river that eventually joins the rivière à Mars. The Bras d'Isaïe also flows through a special area called the zec Mars-Moulin, which is a controlled harvesting zone. This means people can hunt and fish there under certain rules.

People use the area around the Bras d'Isaïe for two main things:

• Forestry: This involves managing and harvesting trees.
• Recreational tourism: This includes activities like hiking, fishing, or just enjoying nature.

During winter, the river usually freezes over from early December to late March. It's generally safe to walk or play on the ice from mid-December to mid-March.

Where Does the Bras d'Isaïe Flow?

The Bras d'Isaïe starts from a small lake called "Lac du Bec." This lake is about 358 meters (1,175 feet) above sea level. From there, the river flows for about 10.9 kilometers (6.8 miles). As it flows, the river drops about 108 meters (354 feet) in height.

The river's journey is entirely through a forest. Along its way, it passes through a few other small lakes, like Lac du Soulier and Lake Isaiah. It also collects water from other small streams and lakes, like Lévesque Lake and Hunter Lake.

Rivers and Lakes Nearby

The Bras d'Isaïe is surrounded by many other rivers and lakes. Here are some of its neighbors:

• To the north: Lorenzo lake, Louis-Philippe-Simard lake, bras des Mouches, rivière à Mars.
• To the east: rivière à Mars, Bras du Coco, Bras Rocheux.
• To the south: rivière à Mars, Jumeau lake, Portage lake.
• To the west: rivière du Moulin, Lac Moïse, Bras Henriette.

The Journey to the Ocean

The Bras d'Isaïe eventually flows into the rivière à Mars. This meeting point is about 5.7 kilometers (3.5 miles) west of another river called the Rocky Arm.

Once the Bras d'Isaïe joins the Mars river, the water continues its journey:

• The Mars river flows for about 25.2 kilometers (15.7 miles) generally north.
• Then, it enters the Baie des Ha! Ha!, which is a large bay. The water travels about 11.0 kilometers (6.8 miles) through this bay.
• Next, it joins the mighty Saguenay River. The water flows east along the Saguenay River for about 99.5 kilometers (61.8 miles).
• Finally, at a town called Tadoussac, the Saguenay River meets the Saint Lawrence Estuary. This is where the river water mixes with the salty water of the Atlantic Ocean.

What's in a Name?

The name "Isaïe" comes from a biblical character and is also a French first name. So, "Bras d'Isaïe" means "Isaiah's Arm."

The name "Bras d'Isaïe" was officially recognized on June 29, 1983, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec. This commission is in charge of naming places in Quebec.

More to Explore

If you want to learn more about the area around the Bras d'Isaïe, check out these articles:

• Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality
• Lac-Ministuk, an unorganized territory
• Zec de la Rivière-à-Mars, a controlled harvesting zone
• Zec Mars-Moulin, a controlled harvesting zone
• Bras des Mouches
• Rivière à Mars
• Baie des Ha! Ha!
• Saguenay River
• List of rivers of Quebec