Various theories exist over the etymology of the word Madawaska. One is that the river's name comes from the Algonquian word "Madoueskak", which means "land of the porcupine". In Maliseet, the word "Matawaskiyak" translates to "at the place where water flows out over grass", there is also speculation that it refers to the 'meeting of two rivers where there is grass'. The Madawaska river is a large drainage basin for Lake Temiscouata and other waterways from the north. Before the city of Edmundston changed the natural course of the river, the spring freshet would cause several branches of the river to flood the land resulting in various waterfalls.
The river formed part of the Témiscouata Portage, a canoe and land route from the Bay of Fundy to the Saint Lawrence River dating from the late 17th century. A road, now Route 185 and part of the Trans-Canada Highway, was built along this route in 1862. The Témiscouata Railway was built along the same route in 1886. In the early 20th century, timber and logs were floated down the river to New Brunswick.
The Petit Témis Interprovincial Linear Park is a rail trail running from Edmundston, NB to Cabano, QC in the abandoned CN rail corridor that was originally built by the Temiscouata Railway.
The toponym "Madawaska River" was officialized as of December 8, 1968, at Commission de toponymie du Québec (Quebec Geographical Names Board).[1]
The Madawaska River flows over 39.8 kilometres (24.7 mi) generally towards the Southeast:
Upper river courses (in Quebec) (segment of 18.4 kilometres (11.4 mi))
From the dam at the mouth of Lake Témiscouata, the Madawaska River flows over:
3.4 kilometres (2.1 mi) to the South in a big S, passing at the East side of the "Mont Sainte-Anne", up to the bridge of the 7th Street in Dégelis;
5.1 kilometres (3.2 mi) to the Southeast, bypassing the island Beaupré and passing southwest of a mountain, up to the confluence of the Birches River (Madawaska River) (from the North);
6.4 kilometres (4.0 mi) to the Southeast, forming a detour to the North, and then collecting the waters of Griffin Creek (from the Southwest), up to the confluence of the Languedoc creek (from North);
3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) to the Southeast, passing on the Northeast of Edmundston airport, up to the border between Quebec and New Brunswick. Note: A marsh area (West side of the river) runs along the end of this segment on 2.9 kilometres (1.8 mi).
Lower course of the river (at New Brunswick) (segment of 21.4 kilometres (13.3 mi))
From the border between Quebec and New Brunswick, the Madawaska River flows:
1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi) to the Southeast, up to Island Brook (from the Northeast);
9.4 kilometres (5.8 mi) to the Southeast, bypassing four islands, up to the bridge of the village of Saint-Jacques Parish;
The river actually begins its course at the foot of the dam Lake Temiscouata. The dam, built in 1930 by the "St. John River Storage Company", was acquired by Hydro-Québec during nationalization of electricity in 1963. It was completely rebuilt between 1993 and 1994.
The construction of this dam has had the effect of raising the lake level of about sixty centimeters above the normal high water level, set at 148.13 metres (486.0 ft), to reach the level of 148.74 metres (488.0 ft). The dam allows for storing 125,000,000 metres (410,104,986.877 ft) of additional water from Lake Témiscouata, less than 6% of the volume of water contained naturally in the lake. Another consequence of the enhancement of Lake Témiscouata is the relative youth of the shores which limits the number of natural beaches and potential for recreation.
Edmundston Dam
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Fraser Dam
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April 08, 2023
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This article is about the Madawaska River in Quebec New Brunswick For other rivers named Madawaska see Madawaska River disambiguation This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Madawaska River Saint John River tributary news newspapers books scholar JSTOR June 2016 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Madawaska River flows from Lake Temiscouata in Quebec through Degelis Quebec to join the Saint John River at Edmundston New Brunswick Madawaska RiverMadawaska River in Degelis Quebec in winterLocationCountryCanadaCitiesDegelis QuebecEdmundston New BrunswickPhysical characteristicsSource locationLake Temiscouata Degelis Quebec Temiscouata Regional County Municipality Quebec coordinates47 34 14 N 68 38 33 W 47 57056 N 68 64250 W 47 57056 68 64250 elevation141 metres 463 ft Mouth locationEdmundston New Brunswick coordinates47 21 38 N 68 19 24 W 47 36056 N 68 32333 W 47 36056 68 32333 Coordinates 47 21 38 N 68 19 24 W 47 36056 N 68 32333 W 47 36056 68 32333 elevation135 metres 443 ft Length39 8 kilometres 24 7 mi Basin featuresTributaries left from the mouth Lynch Brook Island Brook Languedoc Brook Lizotte Brook Birch River Madawaska River right from the mouth Troot River Madawaska River Griffin Brook Perches River Madawaska River The course of the Madawaska River is accessible in Quebec by route 185 and New Brunswick by Highway 2 which run along the river side South West Contents 1 Toponymy 2 Course of the river 3 Dams 3 1 Dam of Lake Temiscouata 3 2 Edmundston Dam 3 3 Fraser Dam 4 See also 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksToponymy EditVarious theories exist over the etymology of the word Madawaska One is that the river s name comes from the Algonquian word Madoueskak which means land of the porcupine In Maliseet the word Matawaskiyak translates to at the place where water flows out over grass there is also speculation that it refers to the meeting of two rivers where there is grass The Madawaska river is a large drainage basin for Lake Temiscouata and other waterways from the north Before the city of Edmundston changed the natural course of the river the spring freshet would cause several branches of the river to flood the land resulting in various waterfalls The river formed part of the Temiscouata Portage a canoe and land route from the Bay of Fundy to the Saint Lawrence River dating from the late 17th century A road now Route 185 and part of the Trans Canada Highway was built along this route in 1862 The Temiscouata Railway was built along the same route in 1886 In the early 20th century timber and logs were floated down the river to New Brunswick The Petit Temis Interprovincial Linear Park is a rail trail running from Edmundston NB to Cabano QC in the abandoned CN rail corridor that was originally built by the Temiscouata Railway The toponym Madawaska River was officialized as of December 8 1968 at Commission de toponymie du Quebec Quebec Geographical Names Board 1 Course of the river Edit The river has its source in Lake Temiscouata The Madawaska River originates in Lake Temiscouata about 141 metres 463 ft meters The river follows a winding course generally oriented on South East The river runs through successively Degelis Quebec in Quebec then the parish of Saint Jacques Parish and Edmundston in Madawaska County in New Brunswick The river empties into the left side of Saint John River in downtown Edmundston and facing the American town of Madawaska The Madawaska River flows over 39 8 kilometres 24 7 mi generally towards the Southeast Upper river courses in Quebec segment of 18 4 kilometres 11 4 mi From the dam at the mouth of Lake Temiscouata the Madawaska River flows over 3 4 kilometres 2 1 mi to the South in a big S passing at the East side of the Mont Sainte Anne up to the bridge of the 7th Street in Degelis 5 1 kilometres 3 2 mi to the Southeast bypassing the island Beaupre and passing southwest of a mountain up to the confluence of the Birches River Madawaska River from the North 6 4 kilometres 4 0 mi to the Southeast forming a detour to the North and then collecting the waters of Griffin Creek from the Southwest up to the confluence of the Languedoc creek from North 3 5 kilometres 2 2 mi to the Southeast passing on the Northeast of Edmundston airport up to the border between Quebec and New Brunswick Note A marsh area West side of the river runs along the end of this segment on 2 9 kilometres 1 8 mi Lower course of the river at New Brunswick segment of 21 4 kilometres 13 3 mi From the border between Quebec and New Brunswick the Madawaska River flows 1 7 kilometres 1 1 mi to the Southeast up to Island Brook from the Northeast 9 4 kilometres 5 8 mi to the Southeast bypassing four islands up to the bridge of the village of Saint Jacques Parish 6 1 kilometres 3 8 mi to the Southeast through the village of Saint Jacques Parish up to the railway bridge Canadian National Railway 4 2 kilometres 2 6 mi to the Southeast passing under a road bridge to its confluence 2 Dams EditDam of Lake Temiscouata Edit The river actually begins its course at the foot of the dam Lake Temiscouata The dam built in 1930 by the St John River Storage Company was acquired by Hydro Quebec during nationalization of electricity in 1963 It was completely rebuilt between 1993 and 1994 The construction of this dam has had the effect of raising the lake level of about sixty centimeters above the normal high water level set at 148 13 metres 486 0 ft to reach the level of 148 74 metres 488 0 ft The dam allows for storing 125 000 000 metres 410 104 986 877 ft of additional water from Lake Temiscouata less than 6 of the volume of water contained naturally in the lake Another consequence of the enhancement of Lake Temiscouata is the relative youth of the shores which limits the number of natural beaches and potential for recreation Edmundston Dam Edit This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it October 2016 Fraser Dam Edit This section needs expansion You can help by adding to it October 2016 See also Edit Canada portalBas Saint Laurent administrative region in Quebec Temiscouata Regional County Municipality a RCM of Quebec Lake Temiscouata a waterbody in Quebec Madawaska County a county of New Brunswick Edmundston New Brunswick a city of New Brunswick Saint John River Bay of Fundy a river List of rivers of New Brunswick List of rivers of QuebecReferences Edit Commission de toponymie du Quebec Quebec Geographical Names Board Banque des noms de lieux Bank of Place Names Toponym Madawaska River Segments of the river measured from the Atlas of Canada posted on Internet Ministry of Natural Resources Canada Bibliography EditGanong William F 1904 A Monograph of the Origins of the Settlements in New Brunswick Ottawa J Hope p 185 Rayburn Alan 1975 Geographical Names of New Brunswick Ottawa Energie Mines et Ressources Canada External links EditMap all coordinates using OpenStreetMap Download coordinates as KML Media related to Category Madawaska River at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Madawaska River Saint John River tributary amp oldid 1096504131, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
