Barley River facts for kids

The Barley River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Malbaie River. This river is located in a wild area called Lac-Pikauba. This area is part of the Charlevoix Regional County Municipality.

The Barley River flows through two special areas: the zec des Martres and the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve. These are places where nature is protected. A main road, Route 381, helps people get to the lower part of the river valley. Another forest road, R0305, is used for logging near Barley Lake.

The main activities in this valley are forestry (cutting trees) and tourism. Because it's high up, the river usually freezes over from late November to early April. It's safe to walk on the ice from early December to late March. The river's water level changes with the seasons and how much rain falls. The biggest flood usually happens in April.

Where the River Starts

The Barley River begins at Lake Wabano. This lake is about 0.8 kilometers (0.5 miles) long. It sits high up in the mountains, at an altitude of 861 meters (2,825 feet). Lake Wabano is found in a forest area within Lac-Pikauba. This area is also part of the zec des Martres.

The mouth (the end) of Lake Wabano is to the southwest. It is about 12.5 kilometers (7.8 miles) southwest of where the rivière des Martres meets the Malbaie River. It's also quite far from towns: about 39.5 kilometers (24.5 miles) west of La Malbaie and 41.7 kilometers (25.9 miles) northwest of Baie-Saint-Paul.

The River's Journey

From Lake Wabano, the Barley River flows for about 16.4 kilometers (10.2 miles). It travels through a deep valley, dropping 231 meters (758 feet) in height.

Here's how the river flows:

• For the first 2.3 kilometers (1.4 miles), it goes west. It crosses Lesclache Lake, which is about 2.1 kilometers (1.3 miles) long.
• Next, it flows west for 4.1 kilometers (2.5 miles). During this part, it crosses all of Barley Lake. This lake is 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) long.
• Then, it goes southwest for 3.2 kilometers (2.0 miles). It forms a small loop to the north and picks up water from Évanturel Lake. It also goes through some fast-moving water called rapids. After that, it crosses Lac du Coq, which is 1.9 kilometers (1.2 miles) long.
• The river continues southwest for 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles). It passes more rapids and collects water from a stream. Then it turns west, going through two more sets of rapids.
• For the next 2.3 kilometers (1.4 miles), it flows northwest until it meets the water from Lac Joncas.
• Finally, it travels northwest for 3.0 kilometers (1.9 miles) through more rapids. This brings it to its mouth.

Where the River Ends

The Barley River ends by flowing into the western bank of the Malbaie River. This meeting point is also in Lac-Pikauba, inside the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve.

This spot is about 1.7 kilometers (1.1 miles) east of a tall mountain peak. It's also 15.2 kilometers (9.4 miles) downstream from where the Petite rivière Malbaie joins the Malbaie River. From here, it's about 47.6 kilometers (29.6 miles) northwest of downtown Baie-Saint-Paul and 51.0 kilometers (31.7 miles) west of downtown La Malbaie.

From where the Barley River joins it, the Malbaie River continues for 108 kilometers (67 miles). It drops 656 meters (2,152 feet) in height before it flows into the St. Lawrence River at La Malbaie.

The Name of the River

The name "Barley River" has changed over time. In the past, people spelled it "Berly" or "Berley." In 1927, the spelling "Barley" was officially chosen.

This name honors a man named Pierre Berly. He was an Amerindian of Abenaki origin who used to camp in this area. He was known for a special fishing spot for trout called "Trou à Berly" (Berly's Hole) at the outlet of the lake. The name "Lac Berley" (now Barley Lake) was mentioned in a book in 1945, named after him.

The name "Rivière Barley" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968, by the Quebec Place Names Bank.

Related Places

• Charlevoix Regional County Municipality
• Lac-Pikauba, a wild area
• Zec des Martres, a special hunting and fishing zone
• Laurentides Wildlife Reserve
• Barley Lake
• Lesclache Lake
• Évanturel Lake
• Malbaie River
• St. Lawrence River
• List of rivers of Quebec