Gentilly River (Quebec) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gentilly River |
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Thibodeau Falls in the Rivière-Gentilly Regional Park (Parc de la Rivière-Gentilly).
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Centre-du-Québec |
| MRC | Arthabaska Regional County Municipality and Bécancour Regional County Municipality |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Tourbière à Lemieux Lemieux 110 metres (360 ft) 46°18′59″N 71°58′51″W / 46.316525°N 71.980963°W |
| River mouth | St. Lawrence River Bécancour 5 metres (16 ft) 46°23′55″N 72°20′38″W / 46.398611°N 72.343888°W |
| Length | 34.7 kilometres (21.6 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | St. Lawrence River |
| Tributaries |
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The Gentilly River (in French: rivière Gentilly) is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the big St. Lawrence River. This river is located in the Centre-du-Québec region.
The Gentilly River flows through several areas, including:
- Arthabaska Regional County Municipality: the town of Saint-Louis-de-Blandford
- Bécancour Regional County Municipality: the towns of Manseau, Lemieux, Sainte-Marie-de-Blandford, and Bécancour
Why is it Called Gentilly River?
The Gentilly River had a different name long ago. In the 1600s, it was called the "Little Stinking River." This name was used for about 100 years.
There are a few ideas about why it was called "Stinking":
- Some thought the water itself had a smell.
- Others believed it was because of many muskrats. These animals have a strong smell that some Indigenous people didn't like.
- A third idea suggests it was named after a battle. A fight between the Algonquins and the Iroquois might have happened near the river.
The name "Gentilly" first appeared on maps around 1734. It became common after 1763. This name comes from the seigneury of Gentilly. A seigneury was a large piece of land given to someone by the King. This land was given to Michel Pelletier de La Prade in 1676.
Where Does the Gentilly River Flow?
The Gentilly River starts in a swampy area in Lemieux. From there, it flows towards the northwest. It passes through Soulard Lake on its way.
The river eventually empties into the St. Lawrence River. This happens near the city of Bécancour. Along its path, the river has one main waterfall called Thibodeau Falls, which is 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) high.
The Gentilly River is about 55.9 kilometers (34.7 miles) long. Its water drops about 105 meters (344 feet) from its start to its end. The area of land that drains water into the river, called its watershed, is about 318.7 square kilometers (123 square miles).
The river's main helper river is the Gentilly South-West River. This tributary is about 31.7 kilometers (19.7 miles) long. On average, the Gentilly River carries about 3.6 cubic meters of water per second. During floods, it can carry much more, up to 91.2 cubic meters per second. When the water is low, it carries about 0.3 cubic meters per second.
Fun Things to Do at Gentilly River
The "Parc régional de la Rivière-Gentilly" (which means Rivière-Gentilly Regional Park) is a great place to visit. It's located right on the banks of the Gentilly River.
This park offers many fun activities and facilities for sports and recreation. It's a popular spot for people who enjoy being outdoors. The park is found in both Sainte-Marie-de-Blandford and Bécancour.
