Bras de Jacob Ouest facts for kids

The Bras de Jacob Ouest (which means "Jacob's West Arm" in English) is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows through a forest area in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region. This river is a branch of the Bras de Jacob, which then joins the Rivière du Moulin, and finally the big Saguenay River.

The river's valley is mostly covered by forests. People use the area for logging and also for fun outdoor activities like hiking or fishing. Roads like Route 175 and the Lac-du-Bois-Joli path help people get to this area.

During winter, the Bras de Jacob Ouest usually freezes over. It's typically frozen from early December until the end of March. It's generally safe to walk on the ice from mid-December to mid-March.

River's Journey

The Bras de Jacob Ouest starts at a lake called Lac Graveline. This lake is about 0.5 km (0.3 mi) long and sits high up at 410 meters (1,345 ft) above sea level. This starting point is in a forest within the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve.

From Lac Graveline, the river flows for about 8.7 km (5.4 mi). As it flows, it drops about 104 meters (341 ft) in height. The river's path winds through the forest, sometimes entering the zec Mars-Moulin area. Along its journey, it collects water from several smaller streams and lakes.

Where the River Flows

The Bras de Jacob Ouest flows in different directions along its path:

• First, it goes east for about 1.0 km (0.6 mi). It makes a curve to the south and leaves the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve.
• Then, it turns northeast for about 2.7 km (1.7 mi), picking up water from three small streams.
• Next, it flows northwest for about 2.5 km (1.6 mi), going back into the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve for a bit. It also gets water from Lac de la Flache.
• Finally, it flows north for about 3.2 km (2.0 mi) through a deep valley. It then meanders (winds back and forth) before reaching its end.

Where the River Ends

The Bras de Jacob Ouest eventually flows into the south side of the Bras de Jacob. This meeting point is located in the Saguenay area.

From there, the water continues its journey:

• It flows along the Bras de Jacob for about 9.0 km (5.6 mi) to the east.
• Then, it joins the Rivière du Moulin and travels north for about 37.6 km (23.4 mi).
• Finally, it enters the mighty Saguenay River and flows east for about 126.1 km (78.4 mi).
• The journey ends at Tadoussac, where the Saguenay River joins the Saint Lawrence Estuary.

Nearby Rivers and Lakes

Many other rivers and lakes are close to the Bras de Jacob Ouest. These are some of the main ones:

• To the north: Bras de Jacob, Desgagné lake, Côté lake, William lake brook, Rivière du Moulin, Chicoutimi River, Saguenay River.
• To the east: Rivière du Moulin, Bras Henriette, La Petite Décharge, Rivière à Mars.
• To the south: Cyriac River, Lac aux Rats Musqués.
• To the west: Simoncouche River, Simoncouche Lake, Des Îlets lake, Dépôt lake, Cyriac River, Chicoutimi River.

Naming the River

The name "Bras de Jacob Ouest" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is the organization in Quebec responsible for naming places.

Related Information

Other Articles to Explore

• Saguenay
• Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality
• Lac-Ministuk, an unorganized territory
• Laurentides Wildlife Reserve
• Zec Mars-Moulin, a controlled harvesting zone
• Bras de Jacob
• Rivière du Moulin
• Saguenay River
• List of rivers of Quebec