The
Miramichi River is a
CanadianCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
river located in the east-central part of
New BrunswickNew Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only constitutionally bilingual province in the confederation. The provincial capital is Fredericton...
. The river drains into
Miramichi BayMiramichi Bay is an estuary located on the west coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence in New Brunswick, at the mouth of the Miramichi River. Miramichi Bay is separated into the "inner bay" and the "outer bay", with the division being a line of uninhabited barrier islands which are continually reshaped...
in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The name may have been derived from the
MontagnaisMontagnais could refer to:#A subdivision of the Innu people of Canada#An alternative name for Innu-aimun, a language spoken by the Innu#Montagnais crater, off the coast of Nova Scotia...
words "Maissimeu Assi" (meaning
Mi'kmaqThe Míkmaq are a First Nations people, indigenous to northeastern New England, Canada's Atlantic Provinces, and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec. The nation has a population of about 40,000 of whom nearly 11,000 speak the Algonquian language Lnuísimk, more commonly known as "Micmac"...
Land), and it is today the namesake of the
Miramichi HeraldMiramichi Herald of Arms is the title of one of the officers of arms at the Canadian Heraldic Authority in Ottawa. The office was created in 2003. Like the other heralds at the Authority, the name is derived from the Canadian river. The design of the badge of office of Miramichi Herald of Arms was...
at the
Canadian Heraldic AuthorityThe Canadian Heraldic Authority is part of the Canadian honours system under the Queen of Canada, whose authority is exercised by the Governor General. The Authority is responsible for the creation and granting of new coats of arms , flags and badges for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and...
.
The Miramichi River
watershedA drainage basin is an extent of land where water from rain or snow melt drains downhill into a body of water, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea or ocean...
drains a territory comprising one-quarter of New Brunswick's territory, measuring approximately 13,000 km² of which 300 km² is an
estuarineAn estuary is a semi-enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries are thus subject to both marine influences, such as tides, waves, and the influx of saline water; and riverine influences, such as flows of...
environment on the inner part of
Miramichi BayMiramichi Bay is an estuary located on the west coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence in New Brunswick, at the mouth of the Miramichi River. Miramichi Bay is separated into the "inner bay" and the "outer bay", with the division being a line of uninhabited barrier islands which are continually reshaped...
.
The
Miramichi River is a
CanadianCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
river located in the east-central part of
New BrunswickNew Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only constitutionally bilingual province in the confederation. The provincial capital is Fredericton...
. The river drains into
Miramichi BayMiramichi Bay is an estuary located on the west coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence in New Brunswick, at the mouth of the Miramichi River. Miramichi Bay is separated into the "inner bay" and the "outer bay", with the division being a line of uninhabited barrier islands which are continually reshaped...
in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The name may have been derived from the
MontagnaisMontagnais could refer to:#A subdivision of the Innu people of Canada#An alternative name for Innu-aimun, a language spoken by the Innu#Montagnais crater, off the coast of Nova Scotia...
words "Maissimeu Assi" (meaning
Mi'kmaqThe Míkmaq are a First Nations people, indigenous to northeastern New England, Canada's Atlantic Provinces, and the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec. The nation has a population of about 40,000 of whom nearly 11,000 speak the Algonquian language Lnuísimk, more commonly known as "Micmac"...
Land), and it is today the namesake of the
Miramichi HeraldMiramichi Herald of Arms is the title of one of the officers of arms at the Canadian Heraldic Authority in Ottawa. The office was created in 2003. Like the other heralds at the Authority, the name is derived from the Canadian river. The design of the badge of office of Miramichi Herald of Arms was...
at the
Canadian Heraldic AuthorityThe Canadian Heraldic Authority is part of the Canadian honours system under the Queen of Canada, whose authority is exercised by the Governor General. The Authority is responsible for the creation and granting of new coats of arms , flags and badges for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and...
.
Geography
The Miramichi River
watershedA drainage basin is an extent of land where water from rain or snow melt drains downhill into a body of water, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea or ocean...
drains a territory comprising one-quarter of New Brunswick's territory, measuring approximately 13,000 km² of which 300 km² is an
estuarineAn estuary is a semi-enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries are thus subject to both marine influences, such as tides, waves, and the influx of saline water; and riverine influences, such as flows of...
environment on the inner part of
Miramichi BayMiramichi Bay is an estuary located on the west coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence in New Brunswick, at the mouth of the Miramichi River. Miramichi Bay is separated into the "inner bay" and the "outer bay", with the division being a line of uninhabited barrier islands which are continually reshaped...
. The
watershedA drainage basin is an extent of land where water from rain or snow melt drains downhill into a body of water, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea or ocean...
roughly corresponds to
Northumberland CountyNorthumberland County , having the largest area of any county in the province, is located in northeastern New Brunswick, Canada.-Geography:Northumberland County is covered by thick forests, whose products stimulate the economy...
, but also includes sections of
Victoria CountyVictoria County is located in northwestern New Brunswick, Canada. Farming, especially of potatoes, is the major industry in the county.-Communities:...
, Carleton County, and
York CountyYork County is located in west-central New Brunswick, Canada. The county contains the provincial capital, Fredericton. Outside the city, farming and forestry are two major industries in the county, which is bisected by the Saint John River...
and smaller parts of
Gloucester CountyGloucester County is located in the northeastern corner of New Brunswick, Canada. Fishing, mining and forestry are the major industries in the county...
and Sunbury County.
The Miramichi River meander length measures approximately 250 km and comprises two important branches, the
Southwest Miramichi RiverThe Southwest Miramichi River is a Canadian river in New Brunswick.The river has its origin in Carleton County, at Miramichi Lake in the Miramichi Highlands . Its two branches join near the village of Juniper, NB...
and the
Northwest Miramichi RiverThe Northwest Miramichi River is a Canadian river in New Brunswick. The Mi'kmaq referred to the river as Elmunokun, possibly meaning "a beaver hole" in reference to a deep pool in the river, just below the mouth of the Big Sevogle River, its largest tributary.The Northwest Miramichi River has its...
, each having their respective tributaries. Nearly every bend in the river, from
Push and Be Damned Rapids"Push and Be Damned Rapids" is the evocative name for rapids on the Southwest Miramichi River, one of the many tributaries of the Miramichi River, New Brunswick, near the village of Juniper....
to the Turnip Patch has a distinctive name, reflecting the importance of the river to fishermen, canoeists, and lumbermen.
TideTides are the rises and falls of sea level caused by the combined effect of rotation of the Earth and the gravitation of the Moon and the Sun. The tides occur with a period of approximately 12 and a half hours and are influenced by the shape of the near-shore bottom.Most coastal areas experience...
s reach upriver in the Miramichi system to
Sunny CornerSunny Corner, New Brunswick is a small rural community in Northumberland County, New Brunswick, Canada. It is located approximately 20 km west of Miramichi, New Brunswick, on the northeast bank of the Northwest Miramichi River, opposite its sister communities, Red Bank and Metepenagiag Mi'kmaq...
on the Northwest Miramichi and to
QuarryvilleQuarryville is a community in the Canadian province of New Brunswick....
on the Southwest Miramichi — a distance of approximately 70 km inland from the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The two branches combine at
NewcastleNewcastle is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, it was an incorporated town and the shire town of Northumberland County....
where the river becomes navigable to ocean-going vessels.
The estuarine portion of the Miramichi River downriver from Newcastle in the city of
MiramichiMiramichi is the largest city in northern New Brunswick, Canada. It is situated at the mouth of the Miramichi River where it enters Miramichi Bay...
flows through a drowned river valley. Sea level rise in
Miramichi BayMiramichi Bay is an estuary located on the west coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence in New Brunswick, at the mouth of the Miramichi River. Miramichi Bay is separated into the "inner bay" and the "outer bay", with the division being a line of uninhabited barrier islands which are continually reshaped...
has flooded the mouth of the Miramichi River with
saltwaterSeawater is water from a sea or ocean. On average, seawater in the world's oceans has a salinity of about 3.5%. This means that every of seawater has approximately of dissolved salts...
. The estuary comprises the inner portion of Miramichi Bay and is protected from ocean storms in the Gulf of St. Lawrence by barrier islands. The estuary is significant in that it is a highly productive
ecosystemAn ecosystem is a system of interdependent organisms which share the same habitat, in an area functioning together with all of the physical factors of the environment. Ecosystems can be permanent or temporary. Ecosystems usually form a number of food webs...
, despite its relatively small size. The estuary receives the freshwater discharge from the Miramichi River and its tributaries, mixing with organic materials from the surrounding shorelines and the saltwater inundation from the Gulf of St. Lawrence, itself an estuary and the largest on the planet.
The estuary is a highly dynamic environment, ranging from the high outflows of freshwater during the spring
freshetA freshet can refer to one of two things:* A flood resulting from heavy rain or a spring thaw. Whereas heavy rain often causes a flash flood, a spring thaw event is generally a more incremental process, depending upon local climate and topography...
, to the low outflow and rising saltwater content during the summer period, to fall ocean storms and
nor'easterA nor'easter is a type of macro-scale storm along the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada, so named because the winds come from the northeast, especially in the coastal areas of the Northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada...
s which reshape the barrier islands and the old river channel which forms the navigation channel for ocean-going ships heading to ports at
ChathamChatham is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, Chatham was an incorporated town in Northumberland County along the south bank of the Miramichi River opposite Douglastown...
and
NewcastleNewcastle is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, it was an incorporated town and the shire town of Northumberland County....
, to the winter covering of
sea iceSea ice is largely formed from ocean water that freezes. Because the oceans consist of saltwater, this occurs at about -1.8 °C .Sea ice may be contrasted with icebergs, which are chunks of ice shelves or glaciers that calve into the ocean...
which encases the entire estuary. The inner bay measures only 4 m deep on average, with the navigation channel measuring only 6–10 m, resulting in significant warming of estuarine waters during the summer months. The
diurnalPeople with the surname Diel:* Charles Diel, former head men’s tennis coach at Louisiana State University* Paul Diel , French psychologistDiel may also refer to:* Diel vertical migration, common among deep-sea fish...
tide cycle ranges only 1 m on average.
Tributaries
Important tributaries include:
Miramichi River
- Bartibog River
The Bartibog River is a Canadian river in New Brunswick.The Bartibog River rises in northeastern Northumberland County and flows east and south into the Miramichi River at Bartibog Bridge, NB....
- Napan River
The Napan River is a small Canadian river in New Brunswick.The Napan River rises several kilometres southwest of Chatham, NB in central Northumberland County and flows northeast into the Miramichi River at Napan Bay, NB....
- Bay du Vin River
- Black River
The Black River is a river located in New Brunswick, Canada....
- Northwest Miramichi River
The Northwest Miramichi River is a Canadian river in New Brunswick. The Mi'kmaq referred to the river as Elmunokun, possibly meaning "a beaver hole" in reference to a deep pool in the river, just below the mouth of the Big Sevogle River, its largest tributary.The Northwest Miramichi River has its...
- Sevogle River
The Sevogle River is a Canadian river in central New Brunswick. It consists of two branches, the North Sevogle and South Sevogle Rivers. Below the confluence of these rivers at the Square Forks, the river is properly referred to as the "Big Sevogle River"...
- Little Southwest Miramichi River
The Little Southwest Miramichi River is a Canadian river in Northumberland County, New Brunswick. In Mi'kmaq it is referred to as "Tooadook".....
- Tomogonops River
- Portage River
- Little River
- Southwest Miramichi River
The Southwest Miramichi River is a Canadian river in New Brunswick.The river has its origin in Carleton County, at Miramichi Lake in the Miramichi Highlands . Its two branches join near the village of Juniper, NB...
- Barnaby River
- Renous River
The Renous River is a Canadian river in New Brunswick.The Renous River has its origins south of Holmes Lake in the Miramichi Highlands, part of the Appalachian Mountains, in the northwestern corner of Northumberland County....
- Dungarvon River
The Dungarvon River is a Canadian river in New Brunswick.The Dungarvon River has its origins at several lakes in the Miramichi Highlands, part of the Appalachian Mountains, in the northeastern corner of York County....
- Cains River
The Cains River is a Canadian river in New Brunswick. It is 113 kilometres long.The Cains River has its origins in the "Bantalor Game Refuge" in the eastern part of York County, near the boundary with Sunbury County. Generally flowing northeast through heavy forests, the Cains River joins the...
- Bartholomew River
The Bartholomew River is a Canadian river in New Brunswick.The Bartholomew River is a tributary of the Main Southwest Miramichi River. Its begins in the hills between the Main Southwest Miramichi and Dungarvon rivers at approximately N46.60, W66.30, in the western part of Northumberland County.Its...
- Taxis River
Geology
Rising in the
SilurianThe Silurian is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Ordovician period, about 443.7 ± 1.5 Ma , to the beginning of the Devonian period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Ma . As with other geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period's start and end are well identified, but the...
and
OrdovicianThe Ordovician is a geologic period and system, the second of six of the Paleozoic era, and covers the time between 488.3±1.7 to 443.7±1.5 million years ago . It follows the Cambrian period and is followed by the Silurian period...
rocks of the Miramichi Highlands, an extension of the
Appalachian MountainsThe Appalachian Mountains , often called the Appalachians, are a vast system of mountains in eastern North America. Definitions vary on the precise boundaries of the Appalachians...
, the tributaries of the Miramichi River flow eastward into the New Brunswick Lowland, which dominates the eastern and central part of the province along the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Erosion has created the "Miramichi River valley" (also shortened to just "
Miramichi ValleyThe Miramichi Valley is a Canadian river valley located in the east-central part of New Brunswick. It extends along both major branches of the Miramichi River and their tributaries, however it is generally agreed that the much larger Southwest Miramichi River forms the majority of this region as it...
"), through which the Northwest and Southwest Miramichi rivers flow. Throughout the course of both branches to Newcastle, New Brunswick, they are framed by heavily forested low hills. The highest peak in the Miramichi River watershed is Big Bald Mountain, measuring only 672 m above
sea levelMean sea level is the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation.- Measurement :...
.
Soils in the Miramichi River watershed are typically acidic with shallow topsoil, lending to poor suitability for agriculture. The shorelines of the estuarine portion of the Miramichi River exposes newer rocks belonging to the
CarboniferousThe Carboniferous is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Devonian period, about 359.2 ± 2.5 Ma , to the beginning of the Permian period, about 299.0 ± 0.8 Ma ....
era and underlay the sandy topsoil, however some coastal land is low lying and suffers poor drainage.
SandstoneSandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains. Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any color, but the most common colors are tan, brown, yellow,...
rocks are visible along the river banks.
Fisheries
The Miramichi River and its tributaries originally supported one of the largest populations of
Atlantic salmonAtlantic salmon, known scientifically as Salmo salar, is a species of fish in the family Salmonidae, which is found in the northern Atlantic Ocean and in rivers that flow into the north Atlantic and the north Pacific....
(Salmo salar) in North America. The Atlantic salmon is an anadromous fish, that is, one that is hatched and grows briefly in freshwater and then migrates to salt water while immature to grow to maturity, before returning to fresh water to spawn and complete their life cycle. The Miramichi River still maintains a reasonably healthy, self-sustaining run of Atlantic salmon, as well as lesser runs of other anadromous fish such as American Shad, smelt, herring and sea-run Brook Trout. About one-half of the sport catch of Atlantic salmon in North America are landed on the Miramichi River and its tributaries currently.
Atlantic salmon fishing is restricted to fly fishing only and all large salmon caught must be released alive to protect the spawning population. Since this fishery is highly regulated, all anglers should contact the New Brunswick Dept. of Natural Resources to obtain the specific rules and regulations for each river and tributary in the Province of New Brunswick prior to fishing, as special licenses, salmon "tags" and permits are required, and certain sections of tributaries and the main river are closed to fishing from time to time to protect salmon brood stocks.
The annual salmon runs start in mid-June and continue through late October, when spawning commences in earnest. It is believed that distinct runs of salmon destined for specific tributaries occur at different times of the year, with those fish headed for the upper reaches of the watershed entering the river earlier than those that spawn in the lower tributaries.
Popular salmon flies on the Miramichi River include the Black Bear series, the Cosseboom series, Butterfly, Oriole, and the Blackville Special. Deerhair flies such as the "Buck Bug" are also successful. Major portions of the Miramichi River
salmonSalmon is the common name for several species of fish of the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the family are called trout; the difference is often attributed to the migratory life of the salmon as compared to the residential behaviour of trout, a distinction that holds true for the Salmo...
fishing waters are controlled by private clubs and outfitters, with "public water" that is available to all very limited. Further, all non-resident anglers must hire a registered guide to fish for Atlantic salmon in New Brunswick. Guides can be inquired for in the village of Doaktown and through Dept. of Natural Resources offices.
See also
- List of New Brunswick rivers
- Dungarvon Whooper
The Dungarvon Whooper is a ghost story, immortalized in a song by Michael Whelan , about a murder in the late 19th century along the Dungarvon River in central New Brunswick, Canada....
- Chatham, New Brunswick
Chatham is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, Chatham was an incorporated town in Northumberland County along the south bank of the Miramichi River opposite Douglastown...
- Miramichi, New Brunswick
Miramichi is the largest city in northern New Brunswick, Canada. It is situated at the mouth of the Miramichi River where it enters Miramichi Bay...
- Newcastle, New Brunswick
Newcastle is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, it was an incorporated town and the shire town of Northumberland County....
- Doaktown, New Brunswick
Doaktown is a Canadian village in Northumberland County, New Brunswick.It is situated on the Southwest Miramichi River and was first settled in 1807 for use as a base for the growing lumber industry in central New Brunswick...
- Blackville, New Brunswick
Blackville is a Canadian village in Northumberland County, New Brunswick.It is located on the Southwest Miramichi River approximately 40 kilometres southwest of Miramichi.-Economy:Blackville's economy is tied to the forest industry...
- Boiestown, New Brunswick
Boiestown is a Canadian rural community in Northumberland County, New Brunswick.It is situated on the Southwest Miramichi River approximately 60 kilometres northeast of Fredericton, near the province's geographic centre....