| Bonaventure River | |
| Name Other: | Rivière Bonaventure |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Canada |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | Quebec |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine |
| Length Km: | 115 |
| Length Ref: | [1] |
| Source1: | Chic-Choc Mountains |
| Source1 Location: | Mont-Albert, Quebec |
| Source1 Coordinates: | 48.8833°N -65.5417°W |
| Source1 Elevation: | 600m (2,000feet) |
| Mouth: | Chaleur Bay |
| Mouth Location: | Bonaventure, Quebec |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 48.0333°N -65.4833°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 0m (00feet) |
| Tributaries Left: | Hall River |
| Tributaries Right: | West Bonaventure River |
The Bonaventure River is a river in the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec, Canada. It rises in the Chic-Choc Mountains and flows south to empty into Baie des Chaleurs near the town of Bonaventure, Quebec. The river is about 115km (71miles) long.[1]
The indigenous Mi'kmaq called the river Wagamet, meaning "clear water".[2] The river is still noted for its clear, cold water, making it well known as a great place for Atlantic Salmon fishing and recreational canoeing.
The origin of the river's name is uncertain. It may come from the French bonne aventure (meaning "good fortune"); or named in honour of Simon-Pierre Denys de Bonaventure; or named after the ship Bonaventure of Lord La Court de Pré-Ravillon et de Granpré who entered the Gulf of Saint Lawrence in 1591. In any case, this name was already in use in 1697 when Governor Louis de Buade de Frontenac and Superintendent Jean Bochart de Champigny granted both sides of the river as the Seignory of the Bonavanture River to Charles-Henry de La Croix.[1] [3]