Jacob River (Quebec) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jacob River |
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|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Rivière Jacob |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Capitale-Nationale |
| Regional County Municipality | Charlevoix-Est Regional County Municipality |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Comporté Lake Zec du Lac-au-Sable dans unorganized territory of Mont-Élie, Quebec 443 m (1,453 ft) 47°41′49″N 70°13′21″W / 47.69695°N 70.2225°W |
| River mouth | Malbaie River Clermont 40 m (130 ft) 47°41′49″N 70°13′24″W / 47.6970°N 70.2233°W |
| Length | 14.4 km (8.9 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | St. Lawrence River Estuary |
The Jacob River is a small river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Malbaie River. The Jacob River starts in a wild area called Zec du Lac-au-Sable. It then flows through the unorganized territory of Mont-Élie. Finally, it passes through the cities of La Malbaie and Clermont. This river is part of the Charlevoix-Est Regional County Municipality.
The Jacob River drops about 403 m (1,322 ft) from its source to its mouth. It flows south through a forest. On its west side is the Snigole River, and on its east side is the Comporté River. The river has many rapids and waterfalls. It eventually joins the Malbaie River right in front of downtown Clermont.
This forest valley is a great place for outdoor activities. Roads help people get to different parts of the river. The main activities here are forestry (cutting down trees) and tourism. The river usually freezes from mid-December to late March. It's safest to walk on the ice from late December to mid-March.
River's Journey
The Jacob River begins at Jacob Lake. This lake is 0.8 km (0.50 mi) long and sits 443 m (1,453 ft) above sea level. It's located in Zec du Lac-au-Sable. Jacob Lake is in a small valley surrounded by mountains. Some mountains are as high as 880 m (2,890 ft). High-voltage power lines run along the west side of the lake.
From a dam at the end of Jacob Lake, the river flows south. Here's how its journey unfolds:
- It flows 7.9 km (4.9 mi) south, dropping 182 m (597 ft) in height. Along this part, there are many rapids and waterfalls. This section goes through Mont-Élie and then into La Malbaie. It reaches the first bridge on Chemin des Marais.
- Next, it flows 1.4 km (0.87 mi) south, with more rapids and waterfalls. It enters the city of Clermont. This section ends at the second bridge on Chemin des Marais.
- The river continues 4.1 km (2.5 mi) south, passing more rapids and waterfalls. It reaches the Lac des Lacs bridge.
- Finally, it flows 1.0 km (0.62 mi) south through farming and industrial areas. It goes under a railway bridge. Then, it meets the Malbaie River.
A small dam was built on the Jacob River in 1938. It's about 1.0 km (0.62 mi) upstream from where the Jacob River joins the Malbaie River. This dam is 4.1 m (13 ft) high and 20.0 m (65.6 ft) long.
The Jacob River joins the Malbaie River right across from a park in downtown Clermont. This spot is just downstream from a dam that makes the Malbaie River wider. It's also a short distance upstream from the railway bridge over the Malbaie River.
Why "Jacob"?
The name "Jacob" comes from a person who used to own land near Jacob Lake. Long ago, four mills were built along the Jacob River. These mills used the river's power to work. There were two sawmills for cutting wood, a flour mill for grinding grain, and a wool card mill for preparing wool.
The name "Jacob River" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a government group that names places in Quebec.
