The Southwest Branch Saint John River (french: Rivière Saint-Jean Sud-Ouest) is a
[U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data]
The National Map
accessed June 22, 2011 river in
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and ...
and
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 ...
. The branch originates in "Little Saint John Lake" () on the international boundary between
Saint-Zacharie, Quebec
Saint-Zacharie is a municipality in the Municipalité régionale de comté des Etchemins in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Chaudière-Appalaches region and the population is 1,684 as of 2021. The new constitution dates from 1990, when the tow ...
and
Seboomook Lake Township 5, Range 20, WELS. The branch forms the
Canada–United States border as it flows northeasterly to a
confluence with the
Little Southwest Branch Saint John River in Seboomook Lake Township 9, Range 18, WELS. The Southwest Branch flows briefly into Quebec () and then through Maine to its confluence with the
Baker Branch Saint John River in Seboomook Lake Township 9, Range 17, WELS. The Southwest Branch finally joins with the
Northwest Branch to form the
Saint John River.
Geography
The "Southwest Branch Saint John River" rises at the mouth of the "Little Saint John Lake" (length: ; height: ) which straddles the border between the
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
(
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 ...
, MRC
Les Etchemins Regional County Municipality
Les Etchemins is a regional county municipality in the Chaudière-Appalaches region of eastern Quebec, Canada. It is named for the Etchemin River which finds its source in the region, as well as Etchemin Lake. Lac-Etchemin is the seat of the RCM ...
) and the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
(
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and ...
,
Somerset County, Maine
Somerset County is a county in the state of Maine, in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 50,477. Its county seat is Skowhegan.
History
Somerset County was established on March 1, 1809 from portions of Kennebec Coun ...
). This lake which empties at the North is surrounded by mountains.
The "Little Saint John Lake" is located on the East side of the watershed line corresponding to the crest of surrounding mountains. The
Metgermette North River (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 ...
) drains the Northwest side of this watershed slope. The West slope falls toward "Hurricane Pond" for which water empties on Southwest (
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and ...
), through tributary "Hurricane Brook"; then the current runs down Southwest successively into Dole Brook and
North Branch Penobscot River.
The mouth of the "Little Saint John Lake" is located on the Canada-US border:
* south of the top of a mountain
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and ...
, whose altitude is ;
* to the southeast from the village of
Saint-Zacharie, Quebec
Saint-Zacharie is a municipality in the Municipalité régionale de comté des Etchemins in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Chaudière-Appalaches region and the population is 1,684 as of 2021. The new constitution dates from 1990, when the tow ...
;
* north-east from the village of Armstrong in
Saint-Théophile, Québec.
From the mouth of the "Little Lake St John", the "Saint John River West" runs on of which delimiting the Canada-US border in its upper part and then flows on in the
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and ...
. Its course describes the following segments:
Higher Courses of the "Southwest Branch Saint John River"(segment of delimiting the Canada-US border)
* Northward, up to a stream (from the West, i.e. from the North Metgermette Township, 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 ...
);
* Northward, up to a stream (from the East, i.e. from the
Somerset County, Maine
Somerset County is a county in the state of Maine, in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 50,477. Its county seat is Skowhegan.
History
Somerset County was established on March 1, 1809 from portions of Kennebec Coun ...
);
* Northward, meandering up to a stream (from the Southeast);
* (or in direct line) to the northwest, winding up to the discharge of Lake Joli (from the West, i.e. from
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 ...
);
* to the northeast, to the limit of the township of Langevin (municipality of Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, Quebec;
* to the Northeast, up to the discharge (from the West) of Lake Veilleux and Lake Croche.
Intermediate Course of the "Southwest Saint John River" (segment of delimiting Canada-US border)
* to the Northeast, up to Morning Creek South (from the Southwest);
* to the Northeast, up to Morning Creek North (from Northwest);
* to the Northeast snaking up to the limit of the
Bellechasse Regional County Municipality, Quebec
Bellechasse Regional County Municipality is a regional county municipality in the Chaudière-Appalaches region of Quebec. The county seat is Saint-Lazare-de-Bellechasse.
Saint-Lazare was chosen as the county seat because of its central location ...
(township Daaquam);
* to the Northeast, up to a stream (from the Northwest, i.e. from
Saint-Camille-de-Lellis, Quebec
Saint-Camille-de-Lellis is a parish in the Les Etchemins Regional County Municipality in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Chaudière-Appalaches region and the population is 752 as of the Canada 2016 Census. It is named after Saint Camillus de ...
);
* (or in direct line) to the Northeast, winding up to Doucet stream (from the Northwest, i.e. from
Saint-Camille-de-Lellis, Quebec
Saint-Camille-de-Lellis is a parish in the Les Etchemins Regional County Municipality in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Chaudière-Appalaches region and the population is 752 as of the Canada 2016 Census. It is named after Saint Camillus de ...
);
* to the Northeast and winding up to "Little Southwest Branch" (French: "Petite branche Sud-Ouests" (from the South) i.e. from the township T8 R18 WELS of
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and ...
);
* to the Northeast up to the point where the "Southwest Branch Saint John River" ceases to serve as Canada-US border.
Lower course of the river, downstream of Canada-US border (segment of flowing especially in
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and ...
)
* Northward, with a detour to the West in the
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 ...
, to return up to the US border;
* to Northeast in the
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and ...
up to Carter Creek (from the West, the RCM to be
Montmagny Regional County Municipality
Montmagny is a regional county municipality (RCM) in the Chaudière-Appalaches region of Quebec, Canada. Montmagny is the seat. Its neighbouring RCMs are Bellechasse, Les Etchemins, and L'Islet.
This area was named after Charles de Montmagny, ...
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 ...
). Note: This stream flows mainly 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 ...
and only in
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and ...
;
* to the Northeast, up to a stream (from the West). Note: This stream drains a marsh area of the eastern part of the township of Panet, then flows over in
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and ...
;
* to the Northeast, up to a stream (from the north);
* to the southeast, up to the confluence of the
Baker Branch Saint John River.
Lower course of the river, downstream of the
Baker Branch Saint John River (segment flowing especially in
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and ...
)
* eastward to the highway bridge;
* to the Northeast, to Knowles stream (from the east);
* to the northeast, to the confluence of the river
At its confluence, the "Southwest Branch Saint John River" joins the "Northwest Branch Saint John River" whose source is at the mouth of Lake Frontier, 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 ...
. This junction of the confluence of the two rivers is the head of the Saint John River.
From the confluence of the "Southwest Branch Saint John River", the Saint John River flows to the East and Northeast through the
Maine
Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and ...
; then East and Southeast through the
New Brunswick
New Brunswick (french: Nouveau-Brunswick, , locally ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. It is the only province with both English and ...
. The Saint John River flows on the North bank of the
Bay of Fundy which opens to the Southwest to the
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...
.
Toponymy
The name "Southwest Branch Saint John River" derives from the name of its
parent river, the Saint John River. The cardinal points integrated in the place-name distinguish the two main tributaries of the upper part of the Saint John River.
During his exploratory expedition of 1604 of the south coast of current
New Brunswick
New Brunswick (french: Nouveau-Brunswick, , locally ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. It is the only province with both English and ...
,
Samuel de Champlain named this river the Saint John River because it is consistent with the saint of the day in the calendar of Christendom.
In history, the current Southwest Branch Saint John River was commonly referred to as "Saint John River" (like the main stem), especially in an 1863 report of the surveyor Eugene Casgrain, describing the township of Daaquam. The editions of 1914 and 1925 of ''Dictionnaire des rivières et lacs de la province de Québec'' (Dictionary of rivers and lakes in the province of Quebec) refer to the hydronym of "St. John River".
The 1925 map of township Metgermette North indicates "St. John River West Branch" and that of Daaquam township of 1927. Subsequently, several maps and documents published refer to the cardinal point. The "Répertoire géographique du Québec" (English: Geographical Gazetteer of Quebec) of 1969 indicates "Rivière Saint-Jean" (English: Saint John River).
In 1975 the "Commission de toponymie du Québec" (Quebec Places Names Board) officially changed this hydronym to Rivière Saint-Jean Sud-Ouest (English: Southwest Branch Saint John River).
[Noms et lieux du Québec (Names and locations of Quebec), the work of the "Commission de toponymie du Québec" (Quebec Place Names Board), published in 1994 and 1996 in the form of a printed illustrated dictionary, and under that of a CD produced by the Micro-Intel in 1997 from the dictionary.]
The place name Rivière Saint-Jean Sud-Ouest was formalized on December 2, 1975, by the
Commission de toponymie du Québec (Quebec Names Board)
[Geographical names Board of Quebec - Banque des noms de lieux (Place names Bank) - Toponym: "Rivière Saint-Jean Sud-Ouest" (English: Southwest Branch Saint John River)](_blank)
/ref>
See also
*Saint-Zacharie, Quebec
Saint-Zacharie is a municipality in the Municipalité régionale de comté des Etchemins in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Chaudière-Appalaches region and the population is 1,684 as of 2021. The new constitution dates from 1990, when the tow ...
, a municipality of 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 ...
* Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague, Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec, a municipality of 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 ...
*Saint-Camille-de-Lellis, Quebec
Saint-Camille-de-Lellis is a parish in the Les Etchemins Regional County Municipality in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Chaudière-Appalaches region and the population is 752 as of the Canada 2016 Census. It is named after Saint Camillus de ...
, a municipality of 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 ...
*Les Etchemins Regional County Municipality
Les Etchemins is a regional county municipality in the Chaudière-Appalaches region of eastern Quebec, Canada. It is named for the Etchemin River which finds its source in the region, as well as Etchemin Lake. Lac-Etchemin is the seat of the RCM ...
(RCM)
*Bellechasse Regional County Municipality
Bellechasse Regional County Municipality is a regional county municipality in the Chaudière-Appalaches region of Quebec. The county seat is Saint-Lazare-de-Bellechasse.
Saint-Lazare was chosen as the county seat because of its central location ...
(RCM)
*Somerset County, Maine
Somerset County is a county in the state of Maine, in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 50,477. Its county seat is Skowhegan.
History
Somerset County was established on March 1, 1809 from portions of Kennebec Coun ...
* Saint John River (Bay of Fundy)
*List of rivers of Maine
A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to:
People
* List (surname)
Organizations
* List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
* SC Germania List, German rugby uni ...
*List of rivers of Quebec
This is a list of rivers of Quebec. Quebec has about:
*one million lakes of which 62279 have a toponymic designation (a name), plus 218 artificial lakes;
*15228 watercourses with an official toponymic designation, including 12094 streams and 3134 ...
*List of rivers of Maine
A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to:
People
* List (surname)
Organizations
* List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
* SC Germania List, German rugby uni ...
References
*
Maine Streamflow Data from the USGS
Maine Watershed Data From Environmental Protection Agency
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint John Southwest, riviere
Rivers of Chaudière-Appalaches
Tributaries of the Saint John River (Bay of Fundy)
Rivers of Somerset County, Maine
International rivers of North America