The Gatineau River is a river in western Quebec which rises in lakes north of the Baskatong Reservoir and flows south to join the Ottawa River at the city of Gatineau, Quebec. The river is 386 km long and drains an area of 23,700 km².

From the 19th century up until the second half of the 20th century, the river was used to transport logs to sawmills near the mouth of the river. Philemon Wright and his descendants played an important role in the development of the lumber industry in the Gatineau valley. In more recent times, with declining quality in the forests of the region, logs are used for pulp and paper.

This river was an important transportation corridor for native people of the region and early explorers. Later, roads and railways followed the river valley. The river has been extensively dammed and is an important source of hydroelectric power. In the spring of 1974, there was extensive flooding along the Gatineau.

The river's name comes from Nicolas Gatineau, a fur trader who is said to have drowned in the river in 1683.

The river flows through the communities of:

• Maniwaki
• Low
• Wakefield
• Chelsea
• Gatineau

A covered wooden bridge over the river has been rebuilt at Wakefield. The original bridge, built in 1915, was destroyed by arson in 1984.

The Hull-Chelsea-Wakefield steam train follows the old train route up the Gatineau valley to Wakefield.

Tributaries include the:

• La Pêche River

External links

• http://collections.ic.gc.ca/gatineau/

See also

• List of Quebec rivers