The rivière Wessonneau du Milieu (English: Wessonneau of the Middle River) is a tributary of the Wessonneau North River, in the town of La Tuque, in the region of Mauricie, in the province of Quebec, in Canada.

Since the middle of the 19th century, forestry has been the main economic activity in this sector. In the 20th century, recreational and tourist activities have been highlighted, because the territory has been integrated into the zec Wessonneau. Some forest roads serve this valley for forestry and recreational tourism purposes.

The water surface is normally frozen from the beginning of December to the end of March; however, safe traffic on the ice is usually from mid-December to the middle of March.

Geography The Wessonneau du Milieu river is located to the west of the Saint-Maurice River, to the south of the rivière aux Rats and to the northwest of the Wessonneau River. The neighboring watersheds of the Wessonneau du Milieu River are: to the north: the Wessonneau North river in the south: Dickie stream and the Livernois River.

In its course, the Wessonneau du Milieu crosses several lakes, in particular: Montreal, Nelson, Thomas (neighbor of Lac Sauvageau), Lac Geoffrion, a small unnamed lake, Lac Ann, and Charlemagne.

Course from head (segment of )

Lake Utikuma (diameter of ; altitude of and) constitutes the head of the Wessonneau du Milieu River. From its mouth, the river flows over: towards the northeast, where it collects a small stream; and east to flow into Lake Montreal (along oriented to the southeast; altitude of ) that the current passes through.

The discharge from the latter lake descends on to flow to the southeast into Nelson Lake ( long, oriented to the southeast; altitude: ) that the current crosses. After another discharge of , the current flows through the western shore of Lake Thomas ( long; elevation) and paired with Lac Sauvageau. The river continues on eastward to flow into Lake Geoffrion ( long and wide; altitude: ) which receives by: a bay in the northwest the waters of five lakes including Lake Oblong (altitude: ); the south side: the outlet of Lac du Sable (altitude: ); the south-eastern side: the discharge of three unnamed lakes; and four lakes including Lake Dempsey (altitude: ).

Course downstream from Lake Geoffrion ()

The Wessonneau du Milieu river continues its course eastward on: east, to a small unnamed lake (altitude: ), which the current crosses on ; eastward, to Lake Ann (altitude: ), through which the current crosses on ; towards the south-east, up to the outlet of Lac des Fourches (altitude: ); east, to a small stream, coming from the north; towards the south-east, up to the outlet of three lakes including Merède lake (altitude: ); towards the south-east, to the outlet (coming from the south of Gros Élan lake (altitude: ) which drains the water (on the south side ) the outlet of three lakes including Lac Baril, the outlet of two small lakes on the south side The mouth of Lac du Gros Élan is located at the eastern end; towards the south-east, until the outlet of a small unnamed lake (altitude: ), coming from the north; towards the south-east, to Lake Charlemagne, which the current crosses from west to east on .

Course downstream from Lake Charlemagne (segment of )

The river continues to descend on: towards the south-east, in a strait which constitutes a widening of the river; east, to a stream coming from the north; (including east to a tiny lake; south-east; and south to the discharge of an unnamed lake, coming from the west); south to the outlet of Dickie Creek; southeasterly, to the outlet of the southern Wessonneau river; eastward; then the river branches off to the northeast; north-east, to a small stream coming from the west; northeasterly, up to Campbell Creek; eastward to its mouth which empties into the Wessonneau North River.

Toponymy The toponyms Lake Wessonneau, Rivière Wessonneau, Zec Wessonneau, Rivière Wessonneau du Milieu, River Wessonneau North and River Wessonneau South are interrelated, having the same origin.

The toponym Rivière Wessonneau du Milieu was made official on December 5, 1968, at the Bank of place names of the Commission de toponymie du Québec.Commission de toponymie du Québec - Rivière Wessonneau du Milieu

See also

List of rivers of Quebec

References