Cassian River facts for kids

The Cassian River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Jacques-Cartier River. The river passes through the towns of Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier and Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury. It is part of the La Jacques-Cartier Regional County Municipality in the Capitale-Nationale region.

The Cassian River valley can be reached by forest roads. The lower part of the river is near the Tewkesbury road. This road runs along the east side of the Jacques-Cartier River.

Forestry, which is the business of managing forests, is the main activity here. Tourism, like visiting for fun, is the second most important activity. Part of Cassian Lake is protected by the Tantaré Ecological Reserve. Also, a section of the Cassian River's area, about 4.77 square kilometers, is inside Jacques-Cartier National Park.

The Cassian River usually freezes over from early December to late March. It's generally safe to walk on the ice from late December to early March. The amount of water in the river changes with the seasons and how much it rains. The river's water level rises in March or April due to melting snow.

Where is the Cassian River Located?

The Cassian River is surrounded by several important water areas. Knowing these helps us understand its location.

• To the north: You'll find the Jacques-Cartier River.
• To the east: There's the Jacques-Cartier River again, along with Saint-Thomas Lake and Saint-Vincent Stream.
• To the south: The rivière aux Pins, the Jacques-Cartier River, and the mighty Saint Lawrence River are located here.
• To the west: The Tourilli River and the Chézine River flow on this side.

How the River Flows

The Cassian River starts at Monière Lake and flows for about 28.5 kilometers (17.7 miles). Here's how its journey goes:

• It flows south for 3.4 kilometers (2.1 miles). It crosses Chandler Lake, which is 0.8 kilometers (0.5 miles) long.
• Then, it continues south for 4.9 kilometers (3.0 miles). Along the way, it collects water from Barré Lake and from Lakes Richou, Demers, and Bastien. It also flows through Boisselle Lake, which is 1.2 kilometers (0.7 miles) long.
• Next, it turns west for 0.7 kilometers (0.4 miles). It goes through some rapids and gets water from Pageau Lake and Petit lac Pageau.
• It then flows south for 2.8 kilometers (1.7 miles). It collects water from Lac des Bouleaux and passes through Lake Levraut, which is 0.6 kilometers (0.4 miles) long.
• The river continues south for 5.4 kilometers (3.4 miles). It flows through Lac de la Vessie for 2.0 kilometers (1.2 miles) and then through Lac Cassian for 2.2 kilometers (1.4 miles). These two lakes are connected by a narrow passage.
• After that, it turns east for 1.4 kilometers (0.9 miles). It collects water from Lac Chartré.
• For the next 7.5 kilometers (4.7 miles), it flows south through a deep valley, slowly turning east.
• Finally, it flows south for 1.2 kilometers (0.7 miles) in a small flat area. It runs parallel to the Jacques-Cartier River before joining it.

The Cassian River empties into the west bank of the Jacques-Cartier River. From this meeting point, the water flows generally south for 31.8 kilometers (19.8 miles) along the Jacques-Cartier River. The Jacques-Cartier River then flows into the northwest bank of the Saint Lawrence River.

Name of the River

The name "Cassian River" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a special group that names places in Quebec.