Brûlé River (Sainte-Anne River tributary) facts for kids

The Brûlé River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Sainte-Anne River. This river is located in an area called Lac-Jacques-Cartier. This area is part of the La Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality.

The Brûlé River valley is mostly used for forestry. This means people harvest trees there. It's also a place for fun outdoor activities. The river is usually frozen from early December to late March. It's safest to walk on the ice from mid-December to mid-March. The water level changes with the seasons and rain. The biggest flood happens in spring, around March or April.

Where the Brûlé River Starts and Flows

The Brûlé River begins at Fourchu Lake. This lake is in the Lac-Jacques-Cartier area. Fourchu Lake has a marshy area on one side. It also has tall cliffs on its north and south sides.

The start of the river is:

• About 4.6 kilometres (2.9 mi) east of the Savane River.
• About 6.3 kilometres (3.9 mi) west of Mont Raoul-Blanchard, a tall mountain.
• About 5.8 kilometres (3.6 mi) northwest of Mont Bleu, another tall mountain.
• About 13.8 kilometres (8.6 mi) northwest of where the Brûlé River ends.

From Fourchu Lake, the Brûlé River flows for about 20.1 kilometres (12.5 mi). It drops about 436 metres (1,430 ft) in height along its path.

Here's how the river flows:

• For the first 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi), it goes east to the outlet of Lac Brûlé.
• Then, it flows 3.0 kilometres (1.9 mi) east through a deep valley.
• Next, it travels 6.4 kilometres (4.0 mi) south through another deep valley. It passes by Mont Raoul-Blanchard and Brûlé mountain. It then turns east into a smaller valley. This part ends at the outlet of Lac Janot.
• It then flows 7.1 kilometres (4.4 mi) southeast, dropping 99 metres (325 ft). It forms some curves and goes through many rapids.
• Finally, it goes 2.1 kilometres (1.3 mi) northeast, crossing more rapids, until it reaches its end.

The Brûlé River joins the Sainte-Anne River (Beaupré). This meeting point is in Lac-Jacques-Cartier. It's about 13.1 kilometres (8.1 mi) west of the Saint Lawrence River. It's also about 20.5 kilometres (12.7 mi) southwest of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François.

After the Brûlé River joins it, the Sainte-Anne River flows for about 27.5 kilometres (17.1 mi). It generally flows southwest. The Sainte-Anne River then goes through the town of Beaupré. It finally empties into the Saint Lawrence River.

How the Brûlé River Got Its Name

The name "Rivière Brûlé" comes from a famous explorer named Étienne Brûlé. He was born around 1592 in France. Étienne Brûlé came to Canada in 1608 with Samuel de Champlain. Champlain was a very important French explorer.

Étienne Brûlé was an early European explorer in the Huronia area. He explored many places, including Georgian Bay and several Great Lakes like Huron, Ontario, Superior, and Erie. He traded furs with Indigenous peoples for the French.

Later, there was a war between England and France. In 1629, the English took Quebec. During this time, Étienne Brûlé worked for the English. But in 1632, a peace treaty called the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye gave New France back to France.

Samuel de Champlain returned and was upset with Étienne Brûlé. Champlain believed Brûlé had betrayed France. Étienne Brûlé then went to live in Huronia. He died there in 1633.

The name "Rivière Brûlé" was officially recognized on December 13, 1996. This was done by the Quebec Place Names Commission.