Lacolle River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lacolle River |
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|---|---|
| Country | Province of Quebec, Canada |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Richelieu River at Lacolle 45°04′00″N 73°19′54″W / 45.06667°N 73.33167°W |
The Lacolle River is a small river in Quebec, Canada. It flows through the town of Lacolle, Quebec. This area is in the Montérégie region, south of the St. Lawrence River.
The land around the river is mostly used for farming, like growing fruit in orchards. It's also a fun place for visitors! You can find the popular Safari park in Hemmingford here. The park opened in 1972. There's also a golf course and places that make cider.
Where the Lacolle River Flows
This small river starts from many little streams. These streams are on the eastern side of the Hemmingford township. The river flows from west to east through farm areas. Many small streams join it along the way.
The Lacolle River even runs through the Safari Park in Hemmingford. After leaving the park, it crosses Quebec Autoroute 15. Then, it turns towards the northeast. The river also goes under the Canadian National Railway tracks.
It then flows east, next to Quebec Route 202 and another railway line. The river winds through the village of Lacolle. Finally, it empties into the Richelieu River on its western side. This spot is about 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) north of the border between Canada and the United States. The river's mouth is in an area that sometimes floods.
A River with History
The Lacolle River's location was very important in the past. It's close to where Lake Champlain flows into the Richelieu River. This made the river's area a key spot for military plans and trading by boat.
During the War of 1812, the Lacolle River area was a front line of defense for Montreal. British, Canadian, and Mohawk soldiers fought against American soldiers here. They were defending the Canadian border.
In the early days of New France, this area was part of the Government of Montreal. People built several dams on the Lacolle River. These dams helped power sawmills and flour mills. They also made it easier to float logs down the river.
How the River Got Its Name
The name "Lacolle River" likely comes from the 18th century. It might be linked to an old name for a nearby hill, "mountain to Romeo." This hill was called "Colle" in the 1700s. "Colle" is a word from a French dialect, meaning "hill." It comes from the Latin word "collis," which also means hill.
Over time, the French word "La" (meaning "the") and "colle" were joined together. This is how "Lacolle" became the name.
In 1733, a large piece of land was given to Louis Denys de La Ronde. This land included the river. In 1743, the land was given to his son, Daniel Lienard de Beaujeu. This was the first time the river's name was officially written down. It was called "the river called the Colle." The river's path appeared on maps from the 1740s.
The name "Lacolle River" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This happened at the Bank of place names in Geographical Names Board of Canada.
