Cazeau River facts for kids

The Cazeau River is a small river in Quebec, Canada. It flows south, starting high up in the mountains. It eventually reaches the famous St. Lawrence River.

This river is located in the town of Château-Richer. This area is part of the Capitale-Nationale region. The lower part of the valley where the river flows is easy to reach by road. These roads include avenue Royale (also known as route 360) and route 138. The upper part of the river is more mountainous. You can only get there using special forest roads.

The main activity in this valley is forestry, which means growing and cutting down trees. There is also some agriculture (farming) closer to the river's mouth.

The Cazeau River usually freezes over in early December. It stays frozen until the end of March. It's generally safe to walk on the ice from mid-December to mid-March. The amount of water in the river changes with the seasons. It also depends on how much rain or snow falls. The biggest flood usually happens in March or April when the snow melts.

Where the Cazeau River Flows

The Cazeau River begins high up in the Laurentian Mountains. It starts where two small streams meet. This spot is in Château-Richer, behind the Côte-de-Beaupré area.

The river's source is located between three mountain peaks. It's about 9.4 kilometres (5.8 mi) northeast of where the river ends. It's also about 7.7 kilometres (4.8 mi) northwest of the St. Lawrence River shore.

From its start, the Cazeau River flows for about 15.1 kilometres (9.4 mi). It drops about 427 metres (1,401 ft) in height along its journey. Here's how its path generally goes:

• It flows 0.8 kilometres (0.50 mi) east through a forest. It goes downhill to a small lake.
• Then, it travels 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) south. It crosses two small lakes and picks up water from another stream. It then turns southeast, going through another small lake.
• Next, it goes 0.3 kilometres (0.19 mi) southeast. It crosses a small lake before making a turn where another stream joins it.
• It continues 4.6 kilometres (2.9 mi) south through the forest. It picks up another stream along the way.
• The river then flows 3.9 kilometres (2.4 mi) east through a deeper valley. It goes around two small lakes before turning south.
• It then moves 0.4 kilometres (0.25 mi) southwest through farmland. Here, two more streams join the river.
• For 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi), it flows east through farmland. It passes under big Hydro-Québec power lines. It also goes through a deep part of the St. Lawrence plain. It flows between two small communities, Rivière-Cazeau and Le Moyne. It also passes under a Canadian Pacific Railway bridge before reaching Route 138.
• Finally, it flows 0.3 kilometres (0.19 mi) southeast through farmland and vacation areas. This is where it reaches its mouth.

The Cazeau River ends in Château-Richer. It flows into a small bay on the Île d'Orléans Channel. This channel is on the northwest side of the St. Lawrence River. This bay is located between some sandbanks called Battures des Îlets and the Le Moyne River. The bay faces Île d'Orléans, which is about 2.3 kilometres (1.4 mi) to the east.

The river's mouth is about 4.7 kilometres (2.9 mi) north of L'Ange-Gardien village. It's also 3.0 kilometres (1.9 mi) south of Château-Richer village. The bridge connecting Île d'Orléans to L'Ange-Gardien is about 9.8 kilometres (6.1 mi) north of the river's mouth.

Why is it Called Cazeau?

The name "Cazeau River" has been used since 1851. It is named after Jean Cassaux (around 1699-1761). He was a surgeon from France. Jean Cassaux bought land in this area in 1724.

Over time, the spelling of his last name changed. The letter "z" was added, making it "Cazeau." This spelling was used in a land document in 1750. Later, a train station on the "P'tit train de Sainte-Anne" line was also called Cazeau. This train line served the Côte de Beaupré area. Today, a small community called Rivière-Cazeau is located near this old train station.

The official name "Rivière Cazeau" was confirmed on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is in charge of place names in Quebec.