Restigouche River

Restigouche River
The Restigouche River at Matapédia
Location
CountryCanada
CitiesMatapédia, Quebec, Campbellton, New Brunswick
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationConfluence of Little Main Restigouche River and Kedgwick River
 • coordinates47°39′52″N 67°29′28″W / 47.66444°N 67.49111°W / 47.66444; -67.49111
 • elevation118 m (387 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
Chaleur Bay
 • coordinates
48°03′46″N 66°19′45″W / 48.06278°N 66.32917°W / 48.06278; -66.32917
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length200 km (120 mi)
Basin size12,820 km2 (4,950 sq mi)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftIn Québec: Escuminac River, ruisseau Harrison, rivière du Loup (Restigouche), Kempt River, ruisseau Fraser, ruisseau Flatland, Matapédia, ruisseau Brandy, ruisseau Chaine de Rocher, ruisseau Chamberland, ruisseau du Pin Rouge, ruisseau Fergunson, Patapédia; in New-Brunswick: ruisseau Tracy Brook, Kedgwick River, Gounamitz River.
 • rightIn New-Brunswick: Walker Brook, Black Brook, Upsalquitch River, Wyers Brook, Cheuters Brook, Lower Grindstone Brook, Lower Two Brooks, Upper Two Brooks, Upper Thorn Point Brook, White Brook, Stillwater Brook, Hailes Brook, Five Finger Brook, Lower Four Mile Brook, Jardine Brook, Boston Brook, Little Main Restigouche River.
Restigouche River at Campbellton

The Restigouche River[1] (French: Rivière Ristigouche)[1] is a river that flows across the northwestern part of the province of New Brunswick and the southeastern part of Quebec.

The river flows in a northeasterly direction from its source in the Appalachian Mountains of northwestern New Brunswick to Chaleur Bay. Its meander length is approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi). The Restigouche is fed by several tributaries flowing south from Quebec's Notre Dame Mountains on the western edge of the Gaspé Peninsula (Kedgwick River, Gounamitz River, Patapédia River, and Matapedia River) as well as the Upsalquitch River flowing north from New Brunswick's Chaleur Uplands.

Located mostly in New Brunswick, the river forms the inter-provincial boundary between the two provinces from its confluence with the Patapédia River to its mouth at Dalhousie, New Brunswick and Miguasha, Quebec where it discharges into Chaleur Bay.

The estuary is 25 kilometres (16 mi) in length, extending from the river's discharge point at Dalhousie in the east to Tide Head, New Brunswick in the west[2] and is an important stopover for sea ducks, especially black scoters and surf scoters, during migration. This estuary has been designated an Important Bird Area by the Canadian Wildlife Service.

The Royal Canadian Navy has named two warships after this river: HMCS Restigouche (H00) and HMCS Restigouche (DDE 257).

The source of Restigouche River is located at the confluence of the Little Main Restigouche River and Kedgwick River. This confluence is located:

From the confluence of the Little Main Restigouche River and Kedgwick River (in New Brunswick), the Restigouche river flows on 140.5 kilometres (87.3 mi) up to the confluence, distributed according to the following segments:

Higher Courses of the Restigouche River (upstream of the Kedgwick River)(segment of 31.4 kilometres (19.5 mi))

  • 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) to the Northeast, forming a curve to the Northwest, to the Soldiers Creek (from the east);
  • 8.1 kilometres (5.0 mi) North, in a curve to the East, until UpperDowns Gulch (from the southwest);
  • 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) to the Northeast, to Tracy Brook (from the West);
  • 2.6 kilometres (1.6 mi) to the Southeast until Haffords Brook (from the South);
  • 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) Eastward, forming a curve oriented toward the southeast until Stillwater Brook (from the east);
  • 10.8 kilometres (6.7 mi) North, to the confluence of the Patapedia River (from the West) which forms the boundary between the Quebec and New Brunswick.

Middle course of the river (upstream of the Patapédia River) (segment of 50.0 kilometres (31.1 mi))

From the confluence of the Patapédia River, the Restigouche river flows:

  • 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) to the northeast, to the stream of Wild Chalet (from the north or from the Quebec);
  • 2.0 kilometres (1.2 mi) eastward, forming a detour to the north, up to the limit of Eldon Parish, New Brunswick;
  • 5.8 kilometres (3.6 mi) to the northeast, forming a wide curve towards the north, to Marshall Brook (from the Northwest or the Quebec);
  • 3.0 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the east, then north, until Fergunson stream (from the north or from the Quebec);
  • 5.2 kilometres (3.2 mi) to the Southeast, to Ruisseau du Pin Rouge (from the north or from the Quebec);
  • 5.9 kilometres (3.7 mi) to the southeast, to the limit of township of Matapedia (Quebec);
  • 1.3 kilometres (0.81 mi) eastward until Cheuters Brook (from the southeast, either (New Brunswick);
  • 8.3 kilometres (5.2 mi) to the northeast, into Stream Rocks String (from the north or from the Quebec);
  • 3.8 kilometres (2.4 mi) to the Northeast, to Brandy Creek (from the north or from the Quebec);
  • 10.2 kilometres (6.3 mi) to the South-East, to the Upsalquitch River (from the south or from the New Brunswick).

Lower course of the river (segment of 59.1 kilometres (36.7 mi))

From the confluence of the Upsalquitch, the Restigouche river flows:

  1. ^ a b "Names of pan-Canadian significance". Geographical Names Board of Canada. 25 March 2009.
  2. ^ http://www.elements.nb.ca/Theme/estuaries/mike/lushington.htm Éléments, Online environmental magazine