Mauvaise River facts for kids

The Mauvaise River (which means "Bad River" in English) is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows through the town of Saint-Raymond. This river is a branch of the Bras du Nord. The Bras du Nord then flows into the Sainte-Anne River.

The Mauvaise River is important for the area's economy. The main activities here are forestry (cutting down trees for wood) and recreational tourism (like hiking or fishing).

Parts of the river are easy to reach by local roads. Other parts are deeper in the forest. These areas are mostly used for logging and outdoor fun.

The river usually freezes over from early December to late March. It's safest to walk on the ice from late December to early March. The amount of water in the river changes with the seasons and how much it rains. The biggest flood usually happens in March or April.

Where the Mauvaise River Flows

The Mauvaise River starts at Masson Lake. This lake is about 1.4 kilometres (0.87 mi) long and sits 425 metres (1,394 ft) above sea level.

The river's starting point is:

• About 14.3 kilometres (8.9 mi) northwest of where it joins the Bras du Nord.
• About 20.5 kilometres (12.7 mi) northwest of the town of Saint-Raymond.
• About 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of the St. Lawrence River.

From Masson Lake, the Mauvaise River flows for about 22.4 kilometres (13.9 mi). It starts by flowing south, then southeast, and finally northeast. The river drops about 269 metres (883 ft) from its source to its mouth. It mostly flows through forests, but some parts near the end are used for farming.

The River's Journey

Let's look at how the Mauvaise River flows:

• It flows 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) south, going through Lac des Îles. This lake is 1.1 kilometres (0.68 mi) long and 423 metres (1,388 ft) high.
• Next, it flows 2.3 kilometres (1.4 mi) southeast. It crosses Portage Lake, which is 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) long and 403 metres (1,322 ft) high.
• Then, it flows 4.0 kilometres (2.5 mi) southeast, going through the "Lac des Sixty Arpents" (also 403 metres (1,322 ft) high). This lake is surrounded by mountains. It gets water from Lake Alexandre and Petit lac Alexandre.
• The river continues 2.1 kilometres (1.3 mi) southeast through a narrow valley. Here, you'll find two sets of rapids. It also meets water from lakes like Joachim, Middle, and Sirois.
• It flows another 3.8 kilometres (2.4 mi) southeast through a deep valley. It makes a small curve and passes by a small village called Rivière-Mauvaise. There are two more sets of rapids here. It also meets the Cachée River.
• The river then travels 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) southeast through a deep valley with three more sets of rapids.
• Finally, it flows 4.2 kilometres (2.6 mi) northeast. It goes through a small flat area, then a steep valley. It loops a bit and passes between two mountains. One mountain is 277 metres (909 ft) high, and the other is 331 metres (1,086 ft) high. This is where it reaches its end.

Where the River Ends

The Mauvaise River empties into the Bras du Nord. This meeting point is:

• About 6.4 kilometres (4.0 mi) northwest of the Route 365 bridge in downtown Saint-Raymond.
• About 4.3 kilometres (2.7 mi) east of the "Rivière-Mauvaise" village center.
• About 50.6 kilometres (31.4 mi) north of where the Sainte-Anne River meets the St. Lawrence River.

After joining the Bras du Nord, the water flows about 11.7 kilometres (7.3 mi) south. Then, it continues for 76.0 kilometres (47.2 mi) generally south and southwest as the Sainte-Anne River, until it reaches the St. Lawrence River.

What's in a Name?

The name "Mauvaise" comes from a French family name. When used for the river, it means "Bad" in a feminine form in French.

The name "rivière Mauvaise" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a place names board in Quebec.