Dorval River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dorval River |
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|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean |
| Regional County Municipality | Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality |
| City and municipality | Saguenay (city) and Larouche |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Les Trois Lacs Saguenay (city) 185 units? 48°25′03″N 71°23′03″E / 48.41749°N 71.38415°E |
| River mouth | Saguenay River Larouche 68 m (223 ft) 48°31′33″N 71°32′08″E / 48.52583°N 71.53555°E |
| Length | 10.6 km (6.6 mi) |
The Dorval River is a small river in Quebec, Canada. It flows through the city of Saguenay and the town of Larouche. This river is a branch, or "tributary," of the larger Saguenay River.
A main road, Route 170, runs along the Dorval River valley. This area is used for logging and fun outdoor activities. Logging is the most important business here, followed by tourism.
The river usually freezes from early December to late March. It's generally safe to walk or play on the ice from mid-December to mid-March.
Contents
Where the Dorval River Flows
The Dorval River is surrounded by other rivers and lakes. Here are the main water areas nearby:
- To the north: The Saguenay River.
- To the east: The Saguenay River, Rivière aux Sables, and Chicoutimi River.
- To the south: The Bruyère River, Kenogami Lake, Cascouia River, and Pikauba River.
- To the west: The Raquette River, Bédard River, and Lac Saint-Jean.
The River's Beginning
The Dorval River starts at a place called Les Trois Lacs (The Three Lakes). This small lake is about 0.8 kilometers (0.5 miles) long. It sits at an elevation of 185 meters (607 feet) and is surrounded by marshy areas.
The source of the river is located:
- 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) north of Lac Long.
- 1.7 kilometers (1.1 miles) south of the Canadian National Railway and Route 170.
- 7.4 kilometers (4.6 miles) south of the Saguenay River.
- 10.8 kilometers (6.7 miles) east of the center of Larouche.
The River's Journey
From its starting point, the Dorval River flows for about 10.6 kilometers (6.6 miles). It drops 117 meters (384 feet) in elevation along its path. The river mostly flows through forests, but sometimes through farming areas.
Here's how the river flows:
- For the first 2.6 kilometers (1.6 miles), it flows west. It collects water from Lake Wellie and then follows the Canadian National Railway for about 1.0 kilometer (0.6 miles).
- Next, it flows 4.3 kilometers (2.7 miles) northwest. It crosses Route 170 and then turns west again.
- Finally, it flows 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles) northwest. It forms some small streams before reaching its end.
Where the River Ends
The Dorval River flows into a bay on the south shore of the Saguenay River. This bay stretches for about 0.7 kilometers (0.4 miles) to the southeast.
This meeting point is located:
- 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles) south of the north shore of the Saguenay River.
- 8.2 kilometers (5.1 miles) north of the village center of Larouche.
- 9.2 kilometers (5.7 miles) east of downtown Alma.
- 17.4 kilometers (10.8 miles) east of Lac Saint-Jean.
From where the Dorval River joins the Saguenay River, the water continues to flow. It travels about 123 kilometers (76 miles) east to Tadoussac. There, it merges with the Saint Lawrence estuary, which leads to the Atlantic Ocean.
The Name "Dorval River"
The name "Dorval River" comes from Urbain Dorval. He was a foreman, or supervisor, at a work site near Gervais Creek around 1846. Urbain Dorval worked for Peter McLeod. His work site was close to the Dorval River, not far from the area that is now Alma.
The name "Dorval River" also appears in an old book from 1888 about the Lac Saint-Jean region. It was officially recognized as "Dorval River" on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is in charge of place names in Quebec.
More Information
Related Articles
- Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality
- Larouche, a town
- Bruyère River
- Saguenay River
- List of rivers of Quebec
