The Rivière du Milieu (River of the middle) (popularly named "River pike”) flows southward in the unorganized territory of
Lac-Masketsi, in the
Mekinac Regional County Municipality, in
Mauricie
Mauricie () is a traditional and current administrative region of Quebec. La Mauricie National Park is contained within the region, making it a prime tourist location. The region has a land area of 35,860.05 km² (13,845.64 sq mi) and a popu ...
, in
Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...
, in Canada.
The economy of this sector is based on the forestry and railways activities, as well as tourist activities, including hunting, fishing, ATVs and snowmobiles. Since the early 20th century, this area is served by the
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company (french: Compagnie des chemins de fer nationaux du Canada) is a Canadian Class I freight railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, which serves Canada and the Midwestern and Southern United States.
CN i ...
between
Hervey-Jonction and
La Tuque
La Tuque (; ) is a city located in north-central Quebec, Canada, on the Saint-Maurice River, between Trois-Rivières and Chambord. The population was 11,227 at the Canada 2011 Census, most of which live within the urban area. At over 28,000 sq ...
. A very long railway bridge spans the “Rivière du Milieu”. In the past, a small hamlet existed around the station at Rivière-du-Milieu.
Geography
The “Rivière du Milieu” flows entirely in forest land. The route starts near the river (southeast) of
Lake Wayagamac. Much of its course is located in the
Zec de la Bessonne, but the last kilometers through the
Zec Tawachiche
The zec Tawachiche is a ''zone d'exploitation contrôlée'' (controlled harvesting zone) (zec) covering 318 km², of which 310 km² are located in Mékinac Regional County Municipality, in Mauricie, in the province of Quebec, in Canada. ...
.
From the railway of
Canadian National
The Canadian National Railway Company (french: Compagnie des chemins de fer nationaux du Canada) is a Canadian Class I freight railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, which serves Canada and the Midwestern and Southern United States.
CN ...
, the very serpentine river crosses several wetland areas, a distance of about 5.8 km (direct line) to fund a flared valley to its mouth. Aerial maps do seem dozens of small lakes on either side of the river. A small delta appears at the mouth of the “Rivière du Milieu" which empties into the north-east of
Mékinac Lake
The Mékinac Lake is a large lake of freshwater of province of Quebec (Canada), located mainly in the municipality Trois-Rives, in Mekinac Regional County Municipality, in the administrative region of Mauricie, in the province of Quebec, in Ca ...
.
The «Rivière à l’eau morte” (River in the dead water) which is the main tributary (East Bank) of “Rivière du milieu”, flows first to the southwest, turns north, past the hamlet «Doheney» and then redirects westward. The mouth of the «Rière à l’eau morte» is located 4 km (measured in a straight line) upstream of the mouth of the «Rivière du Milieu" or 2.1 km downstream of the railway bridge crossing the “Rivière du milieu”.
With their boat, boaters can navigate in part in the meander path of the Middle River. The
Government of Québec
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a ...
recognized one of the few sanctuaries for reproduction of aquatic fauna, covering a segment of the river, the fishing activities are therefore prohibited throughout year.
Toponymy
The name "Rivière du Milieu” (Mekinac) means that this river is midway on the rail route between
Hervey-Jonction and
La Tuque
La Tuque (; ) is a city located in north-central Quebec, Canada, on the Saint-Maurice River, between Trois-Rivières and Chambord. The population was 11,227 at the Canada 2011 Census, most of which live within the urban area. At over 28,000 sq ...
. This name was officially registered on December 5, 1968, in the register of place names of the
Commission de toponymie du Québec
The Commission de toponymie du Québec (English: ''Toponymy Commission of Québec'') is the Government of Québec's public body responsible for cataloging, preserving, making official and publicize Québec's place names and their origins according ...
(Geographical Names Board of Québec).
See also
*
Lac-Masketsi, unorganized territory
*
Mekinac Regional County Municipality
*
Mauricie
Mauricie () is a traditional and current administrative region of Quebec. La Mauricie National Park is contained within the region, making it a prime tourist location. The region has a land area of 35,860.05 km² (13,845.64 sq mi) and a popu ...
*
Mékinac Lake
The Mékinac Lake is a large lake of freshwater of province of Quebec (Canada), located mainly in the municipality Trois-Rives, in Mekinac Regional County Municipality, in the administrative region of Mauricie, in the province of Quebec, in Ca ...
*
Trois-Rives
*
Zec Tawachiche
The zec Tawachiche is a ''zone d'exploitation contrôlée'' (controlled harvesting zone) (zec) covering 318 km², of which 310 km² are located in Mékinac Regional County Municipality, in Mauricie, in the province of Quebec, in Canada. ...
*
Rivière aux eaux mortes (Mékinac)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Milieu, River
Mékinac Regional County Municipality
Rivers of Mauricie