Neilson River (Bras du Nord) facts for kids

The Neilson River flows through the town of Saint-Raymond in Quebec, Canada. This area is part of the Portneuf Regional County Municipality in the Capitale-Nationale region.

A road called rang Saguenay runs along the east side of the river, making it easy to access. The main activities in this area are forestry (managing forests for wood) and recreational tourism (people visiting for fun outdoor activities).

During winter, the river's surface usually freezes over. It's generally safe to walk or play on the ice from late December to early March.

The River's Journey

The Neilson River starts in the north and flows south through a forest area in Saint-Raymond. Then, it turns west before heading south again. It eventually joins the Bras du Nord river. This meeting point is in the Roquemont Township, where the Bras du Nord also meets the Sainte-Anne Ouest River.

From the start of its journey at Lake Clémenceau, the Neilson River travels for about 62.1 km (38.6 mi). Along its path, the river drops about 528 m (1,732 ft) in elevation.

Upper Part of the Neilson River

This section of the river is about 25 km (16 mi) long.

• It flows west for 1.2 km (0.75 mi), making a curve north.
• Then, it goes south for 8.3 km (5.2 mi). Along the way, it collects water from Lake Saint-Onge and Étang Ponctué. It then turns southwest to meet the water from three lakes: Nancy, Premier lac des Clavaires, and Second lac des Clavaires.
• It continues south for 7.2 km (4.5 mi), collecting water from Lake Josselin, Lake du Cresson, and Étang aux Algues. It also meets water from a group of lakes including Perronet, Richard, and Pomone.
• The river flows west for 1.4 km (0.87 mi).
• It then turns south for 1.4 km (0.87 mi) to the outlet of Lake Bleury.
• Finally, it flows west for 5.5 km (3.4 mi), curving north, and collects water from lakes like Brocard, Faubert, and Cargré.

Middle Part of the Neilson River

This part of the river is about 18.3 km (11.4 mi) long.

• It flows south for 4.1 km (2.5 mi), getting steeper, until it reaches the water from Lake Durouzeau.
• It then goes southwest for 1.8 km (1.1 mi), collecting water from Lake D'Aleyrac and a group of lakes including Grésin, Rosoy, Charlotte, and Nikik.
• The river flows south for 3.2 km (2.0 mi), passing through Lake Miraude (which is 0.7 km (0.43 mi) long and 481 m (1,578 ft) high).
• It continues south for 6.5 km (4.0 mi), crossing all of Lake Hélène (which is 476 m (1,562 ft) high), until it meets Leclerc stream.
• Lastly, it flows southeast for 2.7 km (1.7 mi), going through all of Lake Neilson (which is 2.1 km (1.3 mi) long and 473 m (1,552 ft) high), until it reaches the lake's end.

Lower Part of the Neilson River

This section, downstream from Lake Neilson, is about 18.8 km (11.7 mi) long.

• It flows south for 1.8 km (1.1 mi) to where Gagnon stream joins it.
• It then flows west, then southwest, for 5.5 km (3.4 mi) through a deep valley, to the water from Lake Picard.
• The river continues south for 8.5 km (5.3 mi) through a steep valley, passing by Cap des Sept Côtes, a peak that is 685 m (2,247 ft) high.
• Finally, it flows south for 3.0 km (1.9 mi) through a narrow valley, curving west around a mountain 642 m (2,106 ft) high, until it reaches its mouth.

After joining the Bras du Nord, the water flows south for 35.6 km (22.1 mi). Then, it enters the Sainte-Anne River and travels generally southwest for 76 km (47 mi) until it reaches the St. Lawrence River.

How the River Got Its Name

The name "Zec Batiscan-Neilson" comes from the Neilson River, which flows through the northern part of the ZEC territory (a special zone for outdoor activities). This river flows south, then west, and then south again to join the Sainte-Anne River.

The Neilson Township, located about fifty kilometers northwest of Quebec City, has an unusual shape. The Neilson River flows through it, and it includes lakes like Aaron and Picard. This township is an extension of older land divisions called Saint-Gabriel and fief Hubert.

The name "Neilson Township" was chosen around 1916 to honor John Neilson (1776–1848). John Neilson was born in Scotland and moved to Quebec to live with his brother Samuel, who owned a newspaper called the Quebec Gazette. In 1793, John inherited the newspaper and printing business. When he turned 20 in 1796, he became the editor and owner of the weekly newspaper.

John Neilson was very important for the development of the region in the early 1800s. In 1816, he helped bring European settlers, mostly from Ireland, to live in nearby areas that later became Valcartier. John Neilson was also elected several times to represent Quebec County, Quebec in the government. His last time serving as a Member of Parliament was from 1842 to 1844 in the Parliament of United Canada.

The name "River Neilson" was officially recorded on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec (Quebec's Geographical Names Board), which is responsible for naming places in Quebec.