Amyot River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Amyot River |
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|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Capitale-Nationale |
| Regional County Municipality | La Jacques-Cartier |
| Unorganized territory and a municipality | Lac-Jacques-Cartier |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Various agricultural streams Saint-Bernard-de-Michaudville 31 m (102 ft) 45°44′08″N 73°05′14″E / 45.735581°N 73.087093°E |
| River mouth | Richelieu River Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu 9 m (30 ft) 45°08′10″N 73°15′08″E / 45.13611°N 73.25222°E |
| Length | 11.7 km (7.3 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Richelieu River, St. Lawrence River |
| Tributaries |
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The Amyot River is a small river in Quebec, Canada. It flows through several towns like Saint-Bernard-de-Michaudville, Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu, and Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu. This area is part of the Montérégie region, which is on the south side of the big St. Lawrence River.
Most of the land around the Amyot River is used for farming. This makes agriculture the main way people make a living in this small river valley. The river usually freezes over from mid-December until the end of March. It's generally safe to walk or play on the ice from late December to early March. The amount of water in the river changes depending on the season and how much rain or snow falls.
Contents
Where Does the Amyot River Flow?
The Amyot River is part of a larger network of waterways. It has several important rivers nearby:
- North: The mighty St. Lawrence River.
- East: The Salvail River and the Yamaska River.
- South: The church stream and the rivière des Hurons (Richelieu River).
- West: The Richelieu River.
River's Beginning and End
The Amyot River starts from small streams that drain farmland. These streams are located east of Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu, south of Saint-Bernard-de-Michaudville, and west of Saint-Jude. The main stream that feeds the Amyot River is called the Saint-Denis-Saint-Bernard stream.
The river flows for about 11.7 kilometers (7.3 miles).
- First, it travels about 2.7 km (1.7 mi) northwest through a forest. Here, it collects water from the Albert-Tourigny stream.
- Then, it flows about 4.2 km (2.6 mi) southwest through farm areas, passing east of the village of Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu.
- Finally, it continues about 4.8 km (3 mi) southwest, running almost parallel to the Richelieu River.
The Amyot River eventually joins the Richelieu River. This meeting point is about 1.1 km (0.7 mi) downstream from the village of Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu. It is also about 2.3 km (1.4 mi) upstream from the village of Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu.
Why is it Called Amyot River?
The name "Amyot River" honors a person named Pierre Amiot (sometimes spelled Amyot). He was born in Verchères in 1781 and passed away there in 1839.
Pierre Amyot's Life
Pierre Amyot was an important public figure in his time.
- From 1813 to 1830, he served as a representative for Surrey County.
- After the county was reorganized, he continued to be a representative for Verchères county until 1838.
- In 1813, he was a captain in the local militia (a group of citizens who can be called upon to serve as soldiers).
- He also helped with official counts of the population (censuses) in 1825 and 1831.
- In 1837, he took part in a significant event called the Battle of Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu.
Early Mentions of the River
Even before the name "Amyot River" became official, this waterway was known. In 1815, Joseph Bouchette, who was a surveyor general (a top land-measuring official) for Lower Canada, wrote about it. He called it "brook called Le Miot" in his book, "Topographic description of the province of Lower Canada".
The official name "Rivière Amyot" was formally recognized on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Place Names Bank of the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is the official body responsible for place names in Quebec.
