Barachois
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Barachois (disambiguation).
A barachois is a term used in Atlantic Canada to describe a coastal lagoon separated from the ocean by a sand bar. Salt water may enter the barachois during high tide.
The sand bar often is formed as a result of sediment deposited in the delta region of a river.
The term comes from a Basque word, “barratxoa”, meaning “little bar”. The popular derivation from the French “barre à choir” is without historical merit.
[edit] Examples
- the Barachois de Malbaie on the Gaspé peninsula, fed by the Malbaie, Beattie, du Portage and Murphy Rivers
- Barachois Pond Provincial Park in western Newfoundland
- Prince Edward Island National Park has several examples
