Épinglette Stream facts for kids

The Épinglette Stream, also known as "ruisseau Épinglette" in French, is a small river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Cami River. This stream is located in the area of L'Anse-Saint-Jean, which is part of the Fjord-du-Saguenay region. The stream's path also goes through a special protected area called the zec du Lac-Brébeuf.

The area around Épinglette Stream is mostly covered by forests. People use the roads here for logging and for fun activities like hiking or fishing. The stream usually freezes over from early December to late March. It's generally safe to walk on the ice from mid-December to mid-March.

Where Épinglette Stream Flows

The Épinglette Stream is surrounded by many other rivers and lakes. These are called its "watersheds." Think of a watershed as all the land where water drains into a particular river or lake.

Nearby Rivers and Lakes

• To the north: You'll find the rivière à la Catin, bras à Pierre, Brébeuf Lake, Éternité Lake, Otis Lake, Saint-Jean River, and the big Saguenay River.
• To the east: There's the Rivière à la Catin again, Épinglette Lake, Bazile Lake, Bazile Creek, and Emmuraillé Lake.
• To the south: You'll see Scott Lake, Porc-Épic Lake, and the Malbaie River.
• To the west: Look for John Creek, the Cami River, Desprez Lake, Charny Lake, and the Ha! Ha! River.

The Stream's Journey

The Épinglette Stream starts from a small, unnamed lake high up in a deep valley. This lake is about 773 meters (2,536 feet) above sea level.

From its source, the stream travels about 15.3 kilometers (9.5 miles) through forests and mountains. It drops about 312 meters (1,024 feet) in height along its path.

Here's how its journey goes:

• For the first 3.5 km (2.2 mi), it flows northeast, picking up water from other small lakes.
• Then, it goes another 2.3 km (1.4 mi) northeast, crossing a steep drop, and collecting water from Lac Travers and Petit Lac Travers.
• Next, it makes a small turn west, then north for 2.8 km (1.7 mi), flowing through a steep valley.
• For 4.8 km (3.0 mi), it winds its way north through a marshy area in a deep valley.
• Finally, it flows 1.9 km (1.2 mi) northeast through more marshland and some rapids before reaching its end.

Where the Stream Ends

The Épinglette Stream flows into the south side of the Cami River. This meeting point is called a "confluence."

From this confluence, the water from Épinglette Stream continues its journey:

• It flows along the rivière à la Catin for about 18.9 km (11.7 mi) north.
• Then, it joins the Cami River for 1.0 km (0.6 mi) north.
• After that, it follows the Saint-Jean River for about 37.7 km (23.4 mi) northeast.
• It then crosses L'Anse-Saint-Jean, Quebec for 2.9 km (1.8 mi) north.
• Finally, it joins the Saguenay River for 42.8 km (26.6 mi) east, all the way to Tadoussac. There, it mixes with the huge Saint Lawrence Estuary, which leads to the Atlantic Ocean!

What's in a Name?

The name "Épinglette" means "Pin" in English. A pin is a small decorative badge that people often wear on their clothes, usually near their chest. It can show that someone belongs to a group, or it can be a sign of honor or pride.

The official name "Ruisseau Épinglette" was made official on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec. This is the group in Quebec that names places.

Related Places and Topics

• Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality, a local government area
• L'Anse-Saint-Jean, a town
• Zec du Lac-au-Sable, a special area for hunting and fishing
• Rivière à la Catin
• Cami River
• Saint-Jean River
• Saguenay River
• List of rivers of Quebec