Gatineau
Gatineau is a mapped river in the YearMaps hydrographic index. River courses organise settlement, agriculture and frontier-making more durably than any political boundary, and this reach is indexed against the dams, lakes and cities within its catchment.
- Feature Class
- River
- Coordinates
- 46.14°, -75.95°
About Gatineau
The Gatineau River (French: Rivière Gatineau, pronounced [gatino]) is a river in western Quebec, Canada, which rises in lakes north of the Baskatong Reservoir and flows south to join the Ottawa River at the city of Gatineau, Quebec. The river is 386 kilometres (240 mi) long and drains an area of 23,700 square kilometres (9,200 sq mi).
Encyclopedic summary adapted from Wikipedia: Gatineau River (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Gatineau in Depth
Geography
The geography of the area was altered with the construction of the Baskatong Reservoir, and it is still possible to travel upstream on the Gatineau and reach a point where a small portage leads to the headwaters of the Ottawa River. The Ottawa River then flows northwest and turns south where it eventually flows more easterly and connects with the Gatineau.
A covered wooden bridge over the river at Wakefield, built in 1915, was destroyed by arson in 1984, but has been rebuilt.
History
This river was an important transportation corridor for native people of the region and early explorers. On June 4, 1613, Samuel de Champlain passed here while travelling on the Ottawa River to L'Isle-aux-Allumettes. He noted this "river coming from the north" but did not give its name.
From the 19th century until 1991, the river was used to transport logs to sawmills near the mouth of the river. Philemon Wright and his descendants played an important role in the development of the lumber industry in the Gatineau valley. In more recent times, with declining quality in the forests of the region, logs were used for pulp and paper.
The river has been extensively dammed and is an important source of hydroelectric power.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Gatineau River (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Gatineau: Key Facts
| Length | 343 km |
|---|---|
| Drainage basin | 23,700 km² |
| Source | Lac du Pain de Sucre |
| Mouth | Ottawa River |
| Drainage system | Gatineau River drainage basin |
| Tributaries | Rivière Bazin, Désert River, Rivière Picanoc, Rivière Gens de Terre, Rivière Kazabazua, La Pêche River, Rivière Notawassi, Rivière Fortier |
Facts from Wikidata Q391411 (CC0).
Major River Dossiers
Hand-written studies of the great river systems of history.
Connected Reaches
Nearby watercourses in the same drainage network.
Water Bodies in the Catchment
Settlements Along the Reach
Hydraulic Infrastructure Nearby
Surrounding Terrain
Gatineau: Quick Answers
- Where is Gatineau?
- Gatineau is located in Canada, at 46.1360° N, 75.9522° W.
- Are there dams on the Gatineau?
- No dam on the Gatineau is recorded in the YearMaps dam index, which covers major structures only.