Patapédia River facts for kids

The Patapédia River (which is called Rivière Patapédia in French) is a river that flows into the Restigouche River. It runs through parts of Northwest New Brunswick and Southeast Quebec in Canada.

The river starts in Quebec, in the Matapedia Valley area. This is in the La Mitis region of the Gaspé Peninsula. As it flows, it forms the natural border between Quebec and New Brunswick. Finally, it joins the Restigouche River at a spot known as the "Million Dollar Pool." This pool is famous for having lots of Atlantic salmon that gather there each year.

The upper parts of the river in Quebec can be reached by forest roads. These roads are part of the Zec du Bas-Saint-Laurent area. The lower part of the Quebec side of the river also has forest roads, like Thomas road, which comes from the village of L'Ascension-de-Patapédia, Quebec. However, the New Brunswick side of the river is very rugged. This means there are no easy roads to access it.

Where the Patapédia River Flows

The Patapédia River begins at a place called Lac Long (Long Lake) in Quebec. This lake is about 2.1 kilometres (1.3 mi) long and sits at a height of 401 metres (1,316 ft). It's located in an unorganized territory called Lac-des-Eaux-Mortes, Quebec.

From its source, the Patapédia River flows for about 91.2 kilometres (56.7 mi). It generally moves towards the Southeast, mostly through thick forests.

The Upper River Journey

In its upper section, the Patapédia River flows from Long Lake. It passes by other lakes like Montagnais Lake and Metsébagot. It also meets Silver Creek. The river then flows through "Hunters Lake" and eventually reaches Patapédia Lake. This part of the river's journey covers about 20.3 kilometres (12.6 mi).

Middle Sections of the River

After leaving Patapédia Lake, the river continues its journey. It crosses a small lake that is like an extension of Patapédia Lake. It then meets "Le Gros Ruisseau" and other smaller streams. This middle part of the river flows for about 25.2 kilometres (15.7 mi).

Further downstream, after meeting the East Patapédia River, the Patapédia River continues its flow. It also joins with the Meadow River (Patapédia River). This section is about 11.6 kilometres (7.2 mi) long.

The Lower River and its End

The lower part of the Patapédia River forms the border between Quebec and New Brunswick. It flows through the Roncesvalles Township in Quebec and Restigouche County in New Brunswick. Along this section, it meets several brooks like Pollard Brook, Cinq-Mars stream, Guérette stream, Wild Creek, and Fivemile Creek.

Finally, after winding its way for about 34.1 kilometres (21.2 mi), the Patapédia River flows into the Restigouche River. This happens near Ruisseau-Ferguson, Quebec. This meeting point is also where the Quebec and New Brunswick border is located.

River Name History

The name "Patapédia River" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is the Quebec Place Names Board.

Fish and Wildlife in the River

The Patapédia River is very well known for its Atlantic salmon fishing. A group called CGRMP (Corporation de Gestion des Rivières Matapédia et Patapédia) manages the sport fishing in the river. This organization was created in 1991 to help manage the rivers. It includes 23 towns from two different regions: La Matapedia Regional County Municipality and Avignon Regional County Municipality.

Salmon usually start swimming upstream in the Patapédia River in early June. Between 600 and 1,000 salmon travel up the river each year. The fishing season for salmon usually opens in early June and lasts for three months. The best time to fish is from the end of June to the second week of August. The CGRMP also offers places for people to stay while they are fishing.

For fishing, the Patapédia River is divided into three main areas, each with its own fishing limits. People usually draw lots to get fishing rights.

• The first area has 16 fishing spots, including "Big Indian" and "Ravin Brûlé."
• The second area has 38 spots, like "Berge red Fosse Swimming" and "Hewitt."
• The third area has 20 spots, such as "Field of Blueuts" and "Salmon Hole."

See also

In Spanish: Río Patapédia para niños