Bras de l'Enfer (rivière à Mars) facts for kids

The Bras de l'Enfer is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Rivière à Mars. This river is located in a wild area called Lac-Ministuk. This area is part of the Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality and the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region.

The upper part of the Bras de l'Enfer flows through the northern section of the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve. This is a large protected area. The river valley has some smaller forest roads. These roads are mainly used for logging and for people enjoying nature, like hiking or fishing.

The main activity in this river valley is forestry, which means cutting down trees for wood. Recreational tourism is the second most important activity. This includes things like camping, fishing, or hiking.

The surface of the Bras de l'Enfer usually freezes over from early December to late March. However, it's generally safe to walk or travel on the ice from mid-December to mid-March.

Where Does the Bras de l'Enfer Flow?

The Bras de l'Enfer starts at a lake called Lac Tréma. This lake is quite small, about 0.15 kilometers (0.09 miles) long. It sits at a high altitude of 897 meters (2,943 feet).

The source of the river is located:

• About 3.7 km (2.3 mi) northeast of "Lac du Moulin". This lake is the starting point for the Rivière du Moulin.
• About 3.9 km (2.4 mi) west of the Rivière à Mars.
• About 7.7 km (4.8 mi) south of where the Bras de l'Enfer joins the Rivière à Mars.
• About 7.2 km (4.5 mi) northwest of Lac Marchand.
• About 16.8 km (10.4 mi) southwest of Lake Ha! Ha!.

From its source, the Bras de l'Enfer flows for about 18.6 kilometers (11.6 miles). It drops about 457 meters (1,499 feet) in elevation along its path. The river flows entirely through forests and mountains.

Here's how the river flows:

• It travels about 2.0 km (1.2 mi) to the west. Along this part, it crosses Gilson Lake and Villeneuve Lake. Villeneuve Lake is about 0.8 km (0.5 mi) long.
• Then, it goes about 3.2 km (2.0 mi) towards the northwest. It flows through Lac de l'Enfer, which is 2.0 km (1.2 mi) long.
• Next, it flows 3.5 km (2.2 mi) northeast. It then turns northeast again to reach the outlet of Lake Georges.
• It continues for about 3.9 km (2.4 mi) towards the northeast. During this section, it drops 165 meters (541 feet) in elevation. It also goes around a mountain that is 934 meters (3,064 feet) high.
• The river flows 1.7 km (1.1 mi) northwards, dropping 97 meters (318 feet) in elevation.
• Finally, it flows about 4.3 km (2.7 mi) towards the southeast, making a few turns before reaching its mouth.

Where Does the River End?

The Bras de l'Enfer empties into the east bank of the Rivière à Mars. This meeting point is located:

• About 4.3 km (2.7 mi) northeast of Lake Georges.
• About 8.7 km (5.4 mi) northeast of a bend in the Rivière du Moulin.
• About 8.2 km (5.1 mi) west of the Rivière à Pierre.
• About 5.8 km (3.6 mi) west of a mountain peak that is 961 meters (3,153 feet) high.
• About 36.4 km (22.6 mi) south of where the Rivière à Mars meets the Baie des Ha! Ha!.

After the Bras de l'Enfer joins the Rivière à Mars, the water flows along the Rivière à Mars for about 55.3 km (34.4 mi) generally northwards. Then, it crosses the Baie des Ha! Ha! for 11.0 km (6.8 mi) to the northeast. After that, it flows along the Saguenay River for 99.5 km (61.8 mi) east to Tadoussac. At Tadoussac, the water joins the Saint Lawrence Estuary.

What Does the Name Mean?

The name "Bras de l'Enfer" means "Arm of Hell" in French. This name was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. It was added to the Place Names Bank by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a government group that names places in Quebec.

Related Information

See Also

• Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality
• Lac-Ministuk, an unorganized territory (TNO)
• Laurentides Wildlife Reserve
• Lac de l'Enfer
• Rivière à Mars
• Baie des Ha! Ha!
• Saguenay River
• List of rivers of Quebec