Restigouche River

Restigouche River (Ristigouche in Québec), 200 km long, rises in the highlands of northwestern New Brunswick as the Little Main Restigouche River. Fed by its tributaries Kedgwick, Patapédia and Matapédia flowing south from the GASPÉ PENINSULA, and Upsalquitch flowing north from central New Brunswick, it flows northeasterly towards the towns of LISTUGUJ and CAMPBELLTON where it broadens into a wide estuary. At DALHOUSIE it empties into Chaleur Bay on the Gulf of ST LAWRENCE. From the confluence with the Patapédia to Chaleur Bay, the river forms the boundary between New Brunswick and Québec. Together with its tributaries, the Restigouche drains a large area of northern New Brunswick and Gaspé, a land of timber resources and great scenic grandeur. The name derives from the Mi'kmac word Listuguj, but its meaning is unclear. The river is famous for its run of ATLANTIC SALMON. In 1998, 55 km of the Upper Restigouche was designated as part of the CANADIAN HERITAGE RIVERS SYSTEM.