Matapedia River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matapedia River |
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Salmon fishing on the Matapedia River at "La fosse Les Fourches" (Forks pits)
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| Other name(s) | "Rivière Matapédia", in French |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Matapedia Lake, Quebec 158 kilometres (98 mi) 48°29′32″N 67°26′57″W / 48.49222°N 67.44917°W |
| River mouth | Restigouche River, Quebec 8 metres (26 ft) 47°58′17″N 66°56′32″W / 47.97139°N 66.94222°W |
| Length | 112.7 kilometres (70.0 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 3,834 kilometres (2,382.34 mi) |
| Tributaries |
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The Matapedia River (French: Rivière Matapédia) is a famous river in the Matapedia Valley in Quebec, Canada. It flows for about 112.7 kilometres (70.0 mi) from Matapedia Lake all the way to the village of Matapédia. Here, it joins the Restigouche River near the border of New Brunswick.
This river acts like a natural boundary between two areas in Quebec: Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine. It also cuts through the Notre Dame Mountains, which are part of the Gaspé Peninsula. The Matapedia River is often called the Salmon Capital because it's so well-known for its Atlantic salmon.
You can find Route 132 running along the river's east side for its entire length. The Canadian National Railway also follows the river, sometimes on the west bank and sometimes crossing to the east bank using bridges.
Contents
River's Journey
The Matapedia River begins at Matapedia Lake, which is about 22.0 kilometres (13.7 mi) long and 158 metres (518 ft) high. This lake is the main source of the river.
The river officially starts at Amqui, where it winds and turns like a snake for about 15 kilometres (9 mi). This type of river is called a meander river. Further along, it widens into a long lake, about 1 kilometer wide and 7 kilometres (4 mi) long, at Lac-au-Saumon.
After this wider section, the river narrows again below a dam in the village of Causapscal. Here, a major river called the Causapscal River joins the Matapedia. This meeting point creates a special pool that is very famous for Atlantic salmon.
From Causapscal, the river continues its journey south until it reaches the New Brunswick border. There, it flows into the Restigouche River.
What's in a Name?
The name "Matapedia" likely comes from the Mi'kmaq word matapegiag. This word means "river junction," combining mata (junction) and pegiag (river). This makes sense because the Matapedia River meets the Restigouche River right where the town of Matapédia is located.
Another old source from the 1800s says the Mi'kmaq called the area Magabegeak, which means "roughly flowing." Over time, the name has been spelled in many different ways, like Matapediach and Metapedia.
A River of History
Between 1890 and 1960, the Matapedia River was a very popular spot. It was known for having lots of fish and was a favorite destination for rich and famous people from all over the world.
Some of the well-known visitors included Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany and Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll from British royalty. Even American presidents like Nixon and Carter, along with many Hollywood stars, came to fish here.
The Salmon Economy
The Matapedia River is world-famous for its Atlantic salmon fishing. It's even been called "The Fishing Capital of the World"! This is because it has so many large, healthy, and bright salmon.
Fishing for Atlantic salmon here is usually done by fly fishing and is often "catch and release". This means you catch the fish, but then you let it go back into the water. The Province of Quebec has strict rules for salmon fishing. You need special daily permits and licenses to fish here. It's a good idea to ask for information about permits and guides in the village of Matapedia.
There are some public areas where anyone can fish. However, for the best salmon spots, which have limited access, you often need to enter a special yearly lottery to get a chance to fish with guides. Many private fishing camps, like Cold Springs and Glen Emma, are also found along the lower part of the river. These are often owned by business people and large companies.
Towns Along the River
The Matapedia River flows through several towns in Quebec:
- Amqui (where the river starts from Matapedia Lake)
- Lac-au-Saumon (where the river widens into lac au Saumon (Matapédia))
- Causapscal
- Sainte-Florence
- Routhierville
- Saint-Alexis-de-Matapédia
- Matapédia (where the river joins the Restigouche River)
Salmon Pools
The Matapedia River is home to many famous salmon fishing spots, known as "pools." In 2018, the river had so many salmon that the government allowed anglers to keep one large salmon (63 centimetres (25 in) or longer) in August.
These pools are found all along the river, from where it meets the Restigouche River all the way up to Lac au Saumon (Matapédia). Some well-known pools include Lawlor, Du Pont, Delaney, The Islands, Duncan Hole, and Haley's. There are many more, each with its own history and name, often named after families or features of the river.
Images for kids
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Salmon Fisherman
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Salmon Fishermen on the pit "The Forks" (Les Fourches)
