Cascapédia River
The Cascapédia River is a river in the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec, Canada, which has its source at Lake Cascapedia, fed by streams of the Chic-Choc Mountains, and empties into Cascapedia Bay (Baie de la Cascapédia), a small bay of Chaleur Bay. The river is about 120 kilometres (75 mi) long. At times, it is also called Grand Cascapédia River to differentiate it from the Little Cascapédia River which empties into the same bay just to the east.
| Cascapedia River Rivière Cascapédia | |
|---|---|
Cascapédia River in the Gaspésie Park | |
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Lake Cascapédia |
| • location | Mont-Albert UNO |
| • coordinates | 48°54′22″N 66°20′58″W |
| • elevation | 490 m (1,610 ft) |
| Mouth | Cascapedia Bay (Chaleur Bay) |
• location | Gesgapegiag |
• coordinates | 48°11′13″N 65°54′44″W |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Length | 120 km (75 mi) |
| Basin size | 3,172 km2 (1,225 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 82 m3/s (2,900 cu ft/s) |
The Cascapedia is known for its Atlantic salmon (salmo salar) fishing. With average catches of 20 pounds (9.1 kg) and a record catch of 54 pounds (24 kg), caught in 1886, the river has long been recognized as one of Quebec's richest salmon rivers. Already back in 1835, surveyor Joseph Hamel noted the abundance of fish, including trout, salmon, carp, and whitefish. Several Governors General of Canada, including The Marquess of Lansdowne and Lord Stanley, had summer homes along this river.
The river is accessible via Quebec Route 299 that follows the river's course for 69 kilometres (43 mi). Almost its entire course is protected in the Cascapedia River Wildlife Reserve (réserve faunique de la Rivière-Cascapédia), established in 1982. Its headwaters and Lake Cascapedia are within the Gaspésie National Park.