Blanche River (Montmorency River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blanche River |
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|---|---|
| Native name | Rivière Blanche |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Capitale-Nationale |
| Regional County Municipality | La Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality |
| Unorganized territory | Lac-Jacques-Cartier |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lac la Blanche Lac-Jacques-Cartier 853 m (2,799 ft) 47°16′02″N 71°06′03″W / 47.26725°N 71.10093°W |
| River mouth | Montmorency River Lac-Jacques-Cartier 560 m (1,840 ft) 47°15′30″N 71°08′15″W / 47.25833°N 71.1375°W |
| Length | 6.9 km (4.3 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Rivière Blanche (which means White River in English) is a smaller river that flows into the Montmorency River. It's located in a wild area called Lac-Jacques-Cartier in Quebec, Canada. This area is part of the Capitale-Nationale region.
The valley where the river flows has forestry (tree harvesting) as its main activity. People also visit for fun, like recreational tourism.
Because it's quite high up, the top part of the Blanche River usually freezes over from late November to early April. It's generally safe to walk or play on the ice from mid-December to the end of March. The lower part of the river freezes for about a week less. The amount of water in the river changes with the seasons and how much rain or snow falls. The biggest flood usually happens in March or April.
Where the Blanche River Flows
The Blanche River starts from a lake called Lac la Blanche. This lake is about 0.9 kilometres (0.56 mi) long and sits very high up, at an altitude of 853 metres (2,799 ft) (about 2,798 feet).
The mouth (or exit point) of Lac la Blanche is located:
- About 1.0 kilometre (0.62 mi) southeast of the edge of Montmorency Forest.
- About 2.1 kilometres (1.3 mi) south of the edge of the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve.
- About 3.0 kilometres (1.9 mi) west of the Rivière des Neiges.
- About 3.7 kilometres (2.3 mi) southeast of the top of André-Lafond Mountain, which is 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) (about 3,280 feet) high.
- About 3.9 kilometres (2.4 mi) northeast of where the Blanche River joins the Montmorency River.
- About 8.1 kilometres (5.0 mi) east of Route 175, a main road connecting Quebec to Saguenay.
- About 29.3 kilometres (18.2 mi) northwest of the St. Lawrence River.
From Lac la Blanche, the Blanche River flows for about 6.9 kilometres (4.3 mi) (about 4.3 miles). It drops a total of 293 metres (961 ft) (about 961 feet) from its source to its mouth.
Here's how the river flows:
- For the first 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi), it goes northwest through a valley that gets steeper and steeper. It passes between two mountains and enters the Montmorency Forest.
- Then, for 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi), it turns southwest, still flowing between two mountains. Here, it meets the water coming from Lac Bédard.
- Finally, for 2.7 kilometres (1.7 mi), it first heads south in a deep valley, making a big "S" shape. It picks up two small streams from the east. Then, it turns southwest, dropping steeply and collecting another stream from the east, until it reaches its end point.
After the Blanche River joins the Montmorency River, the water flows for another 58.9 kilometres (36.6 mi) (about 36.6 miles) generally south. This journey continues until it reaches the northwest bank of the mighty St. Lawrence River.
Why Is It Called "Blanche River"?
The names "Rivière Blanche" and "Lac la Blanche" (the lake where it starts) are connected. "Blanche" means "white" in French. It's likely named this because of the white appearance of the water, perhaps from rapids, foam, or snow and ice.
The name "rivière Blanche" was officially recognized on March 28, 1974, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is the organization in Quebec responsible for place names.
