Introduction
Western Arm of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence between Quebec and New Brunswick, Canada
For the bay in Newfoundland and Labrador, see Chaleur Bay (Newfoundland and Labrador).
Satellite image of Chaleur Bay (NASA). Chaleur Bay is the large bay in the centre of the image; the Gaspé Peninsula is to the north and the Gulf of St. Lawrence is seen to the east.
Chaleur Bay, also Chaleurs Bay, Bay of Chaleur (in French: Baie des Chaleurs, pronounced [bɛ de ʃalœʁ]), in Mi'gmaq it is called Mawipoqtapei, is an arm of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence located between Quebec and New Brunswick, Canada.
The name of the bay is attributed to explorer Jacques Cartier (Baie des Chaleurs). It translates into English as "bay of warmth" or "bay of torrid weather".
Chaleur Bay is the 31st member of the Most Beautiful Bays of the World Club.
Chaleur Bay is host to an unusual visual phenomenon, the Fireship of Chaleur Bay, an apparition of sorts resembling a ship on fire which has reportedly appeared at several locations in the bay. It is possibly linked to similar sightings several hundred kilometres to the south where the Fireship of Northumberland Strait has been seen in the Northumberland Strait. This may have given rise to a phantom ship legend, which dates back more than two centuries. [citation needed] The story (and witnesses) claim that a sailing ship burned in the waters north of the city of Campbellton, New Brunswick on the Restigouche River, possibly from the Battle of the Restigouche, and is visible in certain weather and light conditions. A drawing of a ghost wielding an anchor and menacing two sailors can be seen on the city's welcome sign. [citation needed]
Geography
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See also: New Brunswick Route 134
View of Chaleur Bay from Carleton-sur-mer, Quebec
Chaleur Bay opens to the east with its southern shore formed by the north shore of New Brunswick. The northern shore is formed by the south shore of the Gaspé Peninsula. The bay measures approximately 50 km (27 nmi) in width at its widest point between Bathurst and New Carlisle. The western end of the bay transitions into the estuary of the Restigouche River at Dalhousie, New Brunswick.
The mouth of the bay is delineated by a line running from "Haut-fond Leander" near Grande-Rivière, Quebec in the north and the "Miscou Shoals" near Miscou Island, New Brunswick in the south.
Canadian Hydrographic Service chart number 4486 is the bathymetric navigational data repository for the area.
Beaches[edit]
The shores of Chaleur Bay include numerous beaches, particularly in the south. Many rivers also form barachois or barrier beaches. The Eel River Bar is one such beach, located at the mouth of the Eel River, immediately to the west of the village of Charlo, New Brunswick. This sand bar is unique, in that it not only has fresh water on one side and salt water on the other, but it is also home to the endangered piping plover.
Tourism in the region has been driven mainly by beachgoers in the summer months. The warm ocean currents emitting from the larger Gulf of Saint Lawrence result in some of the warmest saltwater on the Atlantic coast north of Virginia.
Rivers and Bays[edit]
Chaleur Bay at New Richmond, Quebec
The estuaries of various rivers emptying into the bay create a prominent smell of salt water, notably in the estuary of the Restigouche River.
The following major rivers flow into the bay:
Quebec:
Rivière Matapédia (via the Restigouche)
Rivière Cascapédia
Rivière Bonaventure
Rivière du Grand Pabos
Rivière du Petit Pabos
Grande Rivière (Percé)
New Brunswick (from north to south):
Nepisiguit Bay
Upsalquitch River (via the Restigouche)
Eel River
Charlo River, one of two Maritimes' nesting areas of Harlequin ducks
Benjamin River, one of two Maritimes' nesting area of Harlequin ducks
Nash Creek
Jacquet River
Elmtree River
Nigadoo River (Via Nepisiguit Bay)
Millstream River (Via Nepisiguit Bay)
Tetagouche River (Via Nepisiguit Bay)
Middle River (Via Nepisiguit Bay)
Nepisiguit River (Via Nepisiguit Bay)
Between Quebec and New Brunswick:
Restigouche River
The Restigouche Estuary was designated (June, 2000) an Important Bird Area of International Significance (the first in New Brunswick) because it is the largest staging area in eastern North America for Black scoter.
Patapédia River (via the Restigouche)
Islands[edit]
Chaleur Bay has several islands. Although not entirely located within the bay, the northern shores of Miscou Island and Lameque Island form part of the southern shore of the bay. Heron Island lies near Dalhousie, New Brunswick and is located south of Carleton-sur-Mer, Quebec.
Climate[edit]
The bay's shape and the steep cliffs along its northern shore sometimes create particularly windy conditions especially off Nepisiguit Bay. Under the right wind direction and speed, sea conditions on large areas of the bay can become quite treacherous. Tidal currents are generally weak, except at the mouths of some rivers and certain channels. Its configuration tends to channel the wind for two reasons: the steep cliffs on its North side, and its V shape. This means that in the middle of this section, off Nepisiguit Bay, there is a zone that is particularly windy and subject to high seas if the wind is from the Northwest or the Northeast.
Tidal currents in this section rarely reach one knot, except at the mouths of some rivers and some channels.
