Batiscanie facts for kids

The Batiscanie is a special area in the middle of Quebec, Canada. It's basically the whole area where the Batiscan River and all its smaller rivers and lakes flow. This region covers a huge space of about 4,690 square kilometers (that's like 1,811 square miles!) on the north side of the Saint Lawrence River.

Most of Batiscanie, about 87%, is covered in forests, especially in the northern parts. About 7% of the area is made up of rivers, lakes, and wet areas. Farmers use about 5.5% of the land, mostly in the southern part. In 2010, there were 217 farms here!

The Batiscan River starts in a place called Lac-Édouard, Quebec and flows for 196 kilometers (about 122 miles) south until it reaches the Saint Lawrence River in the town of Batiscan. This river basin is located between other big rivers like the Saint-Maurice River to the west and the Sainte-Anne River to the east.

What is the Geography of Batiscanie?

The Batiscan River begins at Edward Lake in Lac-Édouard, Quebec. It flows south for 196 kilometers, finally emptying into the Saint Lawrence River at Batiscan. This river system is surrounded by other river basins, like the Saint-Maurice River to the west and the Sainte-Anne River to the southeast.

Batiscanie has two main types of land: the Laurentian Shield in the north, which is rocky and hilly, and the flatter lowlands of the St. Lawrence in the south.

Many smaller rivers and streams flow into the Batiscan River. Some of the bigger ones include the Rivière des Envies, Tawachiche River, and Jeannotte River. These rivers create many smaller areas, or "sub-basins," that all contribute water to the main Batiscan River.

There are 103 dams in Batiscanie. Most of these dams are small and are used to help wildlife or for fun activities like boating and fishing. Only one dam is used to make electricity.

What Towns and Areas are in Batiscanie?

Batiscanie includes parts of many towns and unorganized territories (areas without local government). Only three towns are completely inside Batiscanie: Saint-Stanislas, Saint-Séverin, and Saint-Tite.

Many other places are partly in Batiscanie, including:

• Lac-Édouard, Quebec
• Lac Croche (an unorganized territory)
• La Tuque
• Rivière-à-Pierre
• Notre-Dame-de-Montauban
• Lac-aux-Sables
• Sainte-Thècle
• Saint-Adelphe
• Hérouxville
• Saint-Narcisse
• Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan
• Batiscan

How Many People Live in Batiscanie?

In 2011, about 16,140 people lived in Batiscanie across 13 towns. The population was a little higher in 2002, with 16,500 residents. Most people live in the southern part of Batiscanie. The town with the most people is Saint-Tite, followed by Sainte-Thècle. The largest town by area is Lake Edward.

Exploring Towns in Batiscanie

Let's learn about some of the interesting towns in Batiscanie:

Lac-Édouard: A Forest Paradise

Lac-Édouard is deep in the forest, about 65 kilometers east of La Tuque. Even though it's a small town with only 167 people, it's huge in size, covering about 980 square kilometers and having 300 lakes! The village sits on the shores of the 26-kilometer-long Edward Lake, surrounded by mountains and forests. It's a great place for hunting, fishing, and water sports.

Rivière-à-Pierre: Famous for Granite

Rivière-à-Pierre is known for its granite. This strong stone is dug out of the nearby mountains and is famous worldwide. A smaller copy of the famous cross of Gaspé is made of granite and stands in the village. This town is also a gateway to the Portneuf Wildlife Reserve, making it popular for outdoor activities like water sports, camping, hunting, and snowmobiling.

Notre-Dame-de-Montauban: A Town Divided by the River

The town of Notre-Dame-de-Montauban is split in two by the Batiscan River. It has about 850 residents and covers 163.53 square kilometers. Most of the land is wooded, but about 8% is used for farming. In the past, this town was important for its timber industry, with many sawmills.

Lac-aux-Sables: A Resort Haven

Lac-aux-Sables is a popular vacation spot with almost 500 cabins built around its 47 lakes and three rivers. It's a true resort paradise! The area has two villages: Lac-aux-Sables and Hervey-Jonction. Hervey-Jonction is a key stop for two passenger trains. The Batiscan River also flows through this town. Visitors enjoy camping, a large student camp, and a golf club.

Sainte-Thècle: Lakes and History

Sainte-Thècle is home to 55 lakes and covers 213.5 square kilometers. This town, with about 2,478 people, is famous for its resorts, especially around Croche Lake. The tall mountains in the area offer amazing views. It's also a great place for hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and other outdoor adventures. The town's church, rectory, and cemetery are important historical sites. In the past, farming and forestry were very important here.

Saint-Tite: The Leather City and Rodeo Capital

Saint-Tite is the only city in Batiscanie, with 3,880 residents in 2011. Farming and forestry are key to its economy. For a long time, it was known as the "city of leather" because of its many factories that made leather goods like gloves and boots, often in a Western style.

Saint-Tite is also a major shopping and service center for the whole region. It has the only high school in the area and is home to the main office for the Mékinac Regional County Municipality.

The city is famous for its Festival Western de Saint-Tite, a huge rodeo festival that started in 1967. It attracts up to 800,000 visitors over 10 days each year!

Batiscan: The Oldest Parish on the St. Lawrence

The town of Batiscan is the oldest parish in Batiscanie and the only one located right on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River. The Batiscan River flows into the St. Lawrence here. Batiscan became a municipality in 1855 and had 941 people in 2011. It's about 30 minutes from Trois-Rivières and an hour from Quebec City.

Long ago, different Native American groups like the Iroquois and Algonquin lived in the Batiscan area. In 1639, the Jesuits were given control of the "Seigneurie de Batiscan" (Lordship of Batiscan). The first European settlers arrived in 1666.

Today, Batiscan has a public dock on the St. Lawrence River, bike paths, a school, and a medical clinic. Historically, farming, forestry, river travel, and fishing were the main activities. Now, it's also known for vacations and water activities.