Northwest Miramichi River facts for kids

The Northwest Miramichi River is a cool river in New Brunswick, Canada. It's also known by its original name, Elmunokun. The Mi'kmaq people, who are the Indigenous people of this area, gave it this name. Elmunokun might mean "a beaver hole." This name probably came from a deep spot in the river. This deep spot is found near where the Big Sevogle River joins it. The Big Sevogle River is one of the biggest rivers that flows into the Northwest Miramichi.

Where the River Starts and Flows

The Northwest Miramichi River begins its journey near Big Bald Mountain. This mountain is in the Miramichi Highlands. These highlands are part of the huge Appalachian Mountains range. The river starts in Northumberland County.

At first, the river flows towards the east. Then, it changes direction and flows south. This happens where the Tomogonops River and Portage River meet it. The river keeps flowing south until it reaches Sunny Corner. At Sunny Corner, the river becomes tidal. This means its water level goes up and down with the ocean tides. From there, it turns east again.

Finally, the Northwest Miramichi River meets the Southwest Miramichi River. They join together at Newcastle, NB. When they combine, they form the larger Miramichi River.

Amazing Atlantic Salmon

The Northwest Miramichi River is very famous for Atlantic salmon fishing. Atlantic salmon are a special type of fish. They are born in rivers but spend most of their lives in the ocean. Then, they swim back up the rivers to lay their eggs.

The parts of the river where it starts are very important. These areas are perfect places for Atlantic salmon to lay their eggs. Because of this, some parts of the upper river are closed to fishing. Other parts are called "Crown Reserve." These areas have special rules for fishing to protect the salmon.

Fun on the River: Canoeing

In the spring, many people enjoy canoeing on the lower part of the river. Canoeing is a great way to explore the water. People often start their canoe trips from Miner's Bridge. This is where the river first crosses Route 430. They then paddle south towards Redbank and Sunny Corner. It's a fun adventure!

Rivers That Join In

Many smaller rivers and streams flow into the Northwest Miramichi River. These are called tributaries. They add water to the main river. Here are some of the important ones:

• Little River
• Tomogonops River
• Portage River
• Big Sevogle River
• Little Sevogle River
• Little Southwest Miramichi River

Images for kids

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  Northwest Miramichi River, New Brunswick, Canada (IR Walker 1986)

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  Northwest Miramichi River, New Brunswick, Canada (IR Walker 1986)