Deschênes River (Petit Saguenay River Tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Deschênes River |
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|---|---|
| Native name | Rivière Deschênes |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Capitale-Nationale |
| Regional County Municipality | Charlevoix-Est Regional County Municipality |
| Municipalities | Sagard |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Deschênes Lake Sagard 224 m (735 ft) 47°58′27″N 70°04′01″W / 47.97411°N 70.06688°W |
| River mouth | Petit Saguenay River Sagard 207 m (679 ft) 48°01′18″N 70°04′09″E / 48.02167°N 70.06917°E |
| Length | 8.2 km (5.1 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Deschênes River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Petit Saguenay River. This river is located in a place called Sagard. Sagard is part of the Charlevoix-Est Regional County Municipality.
The area around the Deschênes River is mostly covered by forests. Because of this, cutting down trees (forestry) is the main way people make money here. After forestry, fun activities like tourism are also very important.
A main road, Route 170, runs along the river. This makes it easy to get to the river valley.
During winter, the Deschênes River usually freezes over. This happens from early December until the end of March. It's generally safe to walk or play on the ice from mid-December to mid-March.
Contents
Where is the Deschênes River?
The Deschênes River is surrounded by other rivers and areas. Imagine looking at a map:
- To the north, you'll find the Petit Saguenay River and the big Saguenay River.
- To the east, there's the rivière de la Baie des Rochers and the Noire River.
- To the south, it's also near the Noire River.
- To the west, you'll find the Petit Saguenay River again.
The River's Journey
The Deschênes River starts its journey from a lake called Deschênes Lake. This lake is about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) long. It sits high up, about 224 meters (735 feet) above sea level.
Deschênes Lake has a small part that stretches out to the east. This part of the lake gets water from three smaller lakes: Clapin, Dédé, and Gauthier. Many people have cottages or cabins on the southwest side of Deschênes Lake, right along Route 170. The river officially begins where the lake's water flows out from a bay on its north side.
The mouth of Deschênes Lake is about 5.3 kilometers (3.3 miles) southeast of where the Deschênes River ends. It's also about 28.5 kilometers (17.7 miles) southeast of the Saguenay River.
How the River Flows
The Deschênes River flows for about 8.2 kilometers (5.1 miles) in total.
- First, it flows northwest for about 0.5 kilometers (0.3 miles). It meets a small stream called Lawrence Creek coming from the west.
- Then, it turns north and winds its way for about 7.7 kilometers (4.8 miles). It flows through a wide valley surrounded by mountains. Finally, it reaches a bend in the Petit Saguenay River.
Where the River Ends
The Deschênes River empties into a bend on the south side of the Petit Saguenay River. This meeting point is:
- About 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) south of the village of Sagard.
- About 23.2 kilometers (14.4 miles) southeast of where the Petit Saguenay River joins the big Saguenay River.
What's in a Name?
The name "Deschênes" is a French family name. It's a common name in places where French is spoken, like Quebec.
The name "Rivière Deschênes" became official on December 5, 1968. This was decided by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a special group that names places in Quebec.
