Kazabazua River
Rivière Kazabazua
The Kazabazua River disappearing underground.
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceQuebec
RegionOutaouais
Physical characteristics
MouthGatineau River
 • location
Kazabazua
 • coordinates
45°56′53″N 75°58′23″W / 45.94806°N 75.97306°W / 45.94806; -75.97306
Basin features
ProgressionGatineau→ Ottawa→ St. Lawrence→ Gulf of St. Lawrence
River systemOttawa River drainage basin

Kazabazua River is a tributary of the Gatineau River in western Quebec, Canada.

The river gives its name to Kazabazua, a village in La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau Regional County Municipality. Derived from the Algonquin language, the name of this river has had many spellings including "Kazaluzu", "Kasubasua", "Cazabasua", "Cazibazouis", "Cazebalzuac", and "Cajibajouis". The name is said to be derived from kachibadjiwan (kach meaning "hidden" and djiwan meaning "current")—a reflection of local topography as the Kazabazua briefly becomes an underground river before resurfacing a few dozen metres downstream. The river then flows through rapids and passes under a natural stone bridge.[1]

Geography

The geography of Kazabazua River includes calcitic marble containing crystals of graphite and grossular garnet. The marble has been chemically and mechanically eroded by water from the river to form a karst stone bridge. The inclusion of gneiss in the marble illustrates erosion differential.[2]

Both this river and Picanoc River flow directly through local towns and are used for recreational activities such as fishing, rowing, and swimming. Cottages and homes are along the riverbanks. The pollution of the Gatineau, Kazabazua, and Pontiac rivers by both treated and untreated leachate has been a recent concern and "could have devastating effects upon residents and tourism throughout the region."[3] One third of the local watershed—including any toxic effluent that might be present—flows into the Kazabazua River system.[3] When water levels rise, the Kazabazua and Pontiac rivers sometimes back up into Lac Shea causing pollutants that they carry end up in this lake.[4] The Kazabuza and Picanoc rivers are among several local bodies of water in Pontiac Regional County Municipality in which delicate aquatic and semi-aquatic animals such as wood turtles have been studied.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Kazabazua (Municipalité)" (in French). Commission de toponymie du Québec. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  2. ↑ Centre d'Interprétation en Géologie du Grenville, Plan de développement intégré, Sites et circuits du patrimoine naturel de la région de l’Outaouais, Montebello (Quebec), 2008-02-27 (Online version Archived 2007-10-28 at the Wayback Machine)
  3. 1 2 Contamination Of The Kazabazua And Picanoc Rivers
  4. 1 2 Projet d’établissement d’un lieu d’enfouissement technique à Danford Lake (in English)
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