Coulonge Chutes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chutes Coulonge |
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| Location | Fort-Coulonge, Quebec |
The Coulonge Chutes (in French: Chutes Coulonge) is a fun park and historical area in Mansfield-et-Pontefract, Quebec, Canada. It is run by a non-profit group.
The main attractions are the amazing Grandes Chutes waterfall, which is 42 meters (138 ft) (about 138 feet) high, and a 100 meters (330 ft) (about 328 feet) long cement log slide.
Even though people stopped floating logs down the river in 1982, the waterfalls and the deep gorge are still very popular. Many tourists, hikers, and cyclists visit the park. It's a great example of ecotourism, which means enjoying nature in a way that protects it. This helps the area now that it doesn't rely on cutting down trees as much.
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History of Chutes Coulonge
Early Logging in Quebec
In the early 1800s, people started cutting down huge pine trees in this area. These trees were squared with axes and floated down the Ottawa River. They were then sold near the Canadian Parliament buildings.
Many of these logs were sent to England. There, they were used to build ships. Timber from this region also helped build big cities along the American East Coast, like Boston and New York City.
George Bryson and the Log Slide
In the 1830s and 1840s, a man named George Bryson Sr. moved near the Coulonge River. This river flows into the Ottawa River. He bought thousands of acres of land with timber rights. This included 200 acres (0.81 km2) (about 0.8 square kilometers) right around the Grandes Chutes.
In 1843, Bryson built the Marchand covered bridge. As more people moved to the area from places like Ireland, Scotland, and the United States, many small towns grew along the river.
Around 1850, Bryson built a sawmill by the river. The Coulonge Falls were a huge problem for moving timber. To solve this, a massive 3,000 feet (910 m) (about 914 meters) long wooden log slide was built. This allowed logs to pass safely over the dangerous waterfall. In 1923, a new cement slide replaced the old wooden one.
Another sawmill was built by J.E. Boyle in Davidson. This sawmill is still working today. It sends wood to the United States and other parts of Canada.
From Log Drives to Park
The Coulonge River and its log slide were used for floating logs until 1982. After that, the site was turned into a public park in 1985. A special building for visitors was opened then.
See also
In Spanish: Cataratas Coulonge para niños
Images for kids
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Pont-Rouge12a.jpg
The Marchand covered bridge built by George Bryson Sr.
