Bras des Mouches facts for kids

The Bras des Mouches is a river located in Quebec, Canada. It's a smaller stream that flows into the Bras d'Isaïe river. This river is found in a wild area called Lac-Ministuk. It's part of the Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality. The river's path goes through the eastern part of the zec Mars-Moulin area.

Some small forest roads run along the Bras des Mouches valley. These roads are mainly used for logging and for fun outdoor activities. Forestry, which is cutting down trees, is the main business here. Tourism, like hiking or fishing, is the second most important activity.

The surface of the Bras des Mouches river usually freezes over in early December. It stays frozen until the end of March. However, it's generally safe to walk or play on the ice from mid-December to mid-March.

Where is the Bras des Mouches River?

Neighboring Waterways

The Bras des Mouches river is surrounded by other important water bodies. Knowing these helps us understand its location.

• To the north: Lorenzo lake, Louis-Philippe-Simard lake, rivière à Mars, La Grosse Décharge.
• To the east: rivière à Mars, Bras du Coco, Bras Rocheux, Bras d'Hamel.
• To the south: rivière à Mars, Jumeau lake, Portage lake, Bras Rocheux.
• To the west: rivière du Moulin, Lac Moïse, Bras Henriette, Bras de Jacob West.

River's Source: Lac des Mouches

The Bras des Mouches river starts from a lake called "Lac des Mouches." This lake is about 0.9 kilometers (0.56 miles) long. It sits at an altitude of 349 meters (1,145 feet) above sea level. This starting point is in the unorganized territory of Lac-Ministuk.

The source of the river is located:

• 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles) northeast of the Rivière du Moulin.
• 4.1 kilometers (2.5 miles) west of the rivière à Mars.
• 4.7 kilometers (2.9 miles) southeast of where the Bras des Mouches joins the Bras d'Isaïe.
• 14.2 kilometers (8.8 miles) east of Simoncouche Lake.
• 14.9 kilometers (9.3 miles) southeast of Kenogami Lake.

How the River Flows

The Bras des Mouches river flows for about 7.8 kilometers (4.8 miles). It drops about 89 meters (292 feet) in elevation along its path. The entire river flows through a forest area.

Here's how its journey goes:

• First, it flows for 3.0 kilometers (1.9 miles) towards the north. It makes a turn towards the east at the beginning. Along this part, it collects water from an unnamed lake to the west. It also picks up water from Lake Moses.
• Next, it flows for 4.1 kilometers (2.5 miles) towards the east. It first makes a turn towards the north. It passes through two lakes that are connected. The first lake is 0.4 kilometers (0.25 miles) long. The second lake is 0.5 kilometers (0.31 miles) long. Both lakes are at an altitude of 270 meters (886 feet).
• Finally, it flows for 0.7 kilometers (0.43 miles) towards the south. It makes a turn towards the east near its end. This is where it meets its mouth.

Where the River Ends

The Bras des Mouches river flows into the Bras d'Isaïe river. It joins the north bank of the Bras d'Isaïe.

This meeting point is located:

• 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) west of where the Bras d'Isaïe and the rivière à Mars meet.
• 2.6 kilometers (1.6 miles) southeast of a lake that is crossed by La Petite Décharge.
• 6.5 kilometers (4.0 miles) northeast of the rivière du Moulin.
• 16.2 kilometers (10.1 miles) southwest of where the rivière à Mars meets Baie des Ha! Ha!.

Journey to the Ocean

From where the Bras des Mouches joins the Bras d'Isaïe, the water continues its long journey:

• It flows along the Bras d'Isaïe for 3.0 kilometers (1.9 miles) towards the east.
• Then, it follows the rivière à Mars for 10.9 kilometers (6.8 miles), generally heading north.
• After that, it crosses Baie des Ha! Ha! northeast for 11.0 kilometers (6.8 miles).
• Finally, it enters the Saguenay River and flows east for 99.5 kilometers (61.8 miles).
• The Saguenay River then reaches Tadoussac. Here, its waters mix with the huge Saint Lawrence Estuary, which leads to the Atlantic Ocean.

What's in a Name?

The word "toponymy" means the study of place names. The name "Bras des Mouches" was officially recognized on June 29, 1983. This happened at the Place Names Bank of the Commission de toponymie du Québec. This commission is like a special group in Quebec that makes sure all place names are correct and official.