Le Petit Bras (Le Gros Bras tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Le Petit Bras |
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|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Capitale-Nationale |
| Regional County Municipality | Charlevoix Regional County Municipality |
| Unorganized territory and municipality | Saint-Urbain |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lac du Bras Saint-Urbain 805 m (2,641 ft) 47°31′46″N 70°42′19″W / 47.52945°N 70.70526°W |
| River mouth | Le Gros Bras Saint-Urbain 80 m (260 ft) 47°34′18″N 70°33′02″E / 47.57167°N 70.55055°E |
| Length | 18.1 km (11.2 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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Le Petit Bras is a river in Quebec, Canada. It's like a smaller arm of a bigger river called Le Gros Bras. This river flows through the area of Saint-Urbain.
The main activity in this river valley is forestry, which means cutting down trees for wood. People also visit the area for fun, like recreational tourism.
The lower part of Le Petit Bras usually freezes over from early December to early April. It's generally safe to walk on the ice from mid-December to the end of March. The upper part of the river stays frozen for about one more week. The amount of water in the river changes with the seasons and how much rain falls. The biggest flow of water, called the spring flood, usually happens in April.
About Le Petit Bras River
Where Does It Start and End?
Le Petit Bras starts at a lake called Lac du Bras. This lake is surrounded by mountains and sits at an altitude of 805 meters (about 2,641 feet).
The river's source is located:
- 7.0 km (about 4.3 miles) east of the Sainte-Anne River.
- 12.9 km (about 8.0 miles) southwest of the village of Saint-Urbain.
- 12.8 km (about 7.9 miles) southwest of where Le Petit Bras joins Le Gros Bras.
- 17.9 km (about 11.1 miles) west of downtown Baie-Saint-Paul.
From its start, Le Petit Bras flows for 18.1 km (about 11.2 miles) through a deep valley. It drops 727 meters (about 2,385 feet) from its source to its mouth. This means the river flows downhill quite a bit!
The river's path includes:
- Flowing northeast for 1.9 km (about 1.2 miles) through a deep valley.
- Continuing northeast for 4.3 km (about 2.7 miles), picking up water from other small streams.
- Turning east for 2.5 km (about 1.6 miles), then making a small turn north.
- Heading northwest for 1.9 km (about 1.2 miles), passing through many rapids.
- Flowing northeast for 2.2 km (about 1.4 miles), crossing more rapids.
- Going east for 1.5 km (about 0.9 miles), through a long series of rapids.
- Finally, flowing east for 3.8 km (about 2.4 miles), with more rapids and some turns, until it reaches its mouth.
Le Petit Bras flows into Le Gros Bras in Saint-Urbain. This meeting point is located:
- 0.1 km (about 0.06 miles) upstream from the Route 381 bridge.
- 2.5 km (about 1.6 miles) northwest of the village of Saint-Urbain.
- 8.7 km (about 5.4 miles) west of the village of Saint-Hilarion.
- 15.7 km (about 9.8 miles) northwest of Baie-Saint-Paul.
- 31.3 km (about 19.4 miles) southwest of La Malbaie.
After Le Petit Bras joins Le Gros Bras, the water flows for 1.9 km (about 1.2 miles) along Le Gros Bras. Then, it travels 25.3 km (about 15.7 miles) along the Rivière du Gouffre. Finally, the water from Le Petit Bras reaches the mighty St. Lawrence River at Baie-Saint-Paul.
What's in a Name?
The name "Le Petit Bras" means "The Small Arm" in French. For a while, this river was officially called "Branche Sud du Gros Bras" (South Branch of the Big Arm).
However, local people in the area often used the name "Le Petit Bras." Because of this, the Quebec Place Names Commission officially changed the name to "Le Petit Bras" in July 1976.
Other names that were sometimes used for this river in the past include "Rivière des Pointes" and "South Branch of the North-West Arm." The name "Le Petit Bras" was officially recorded on September 22, 1976.
Related Places
- Charlevoix Regional County Municipality
- Saint-Urbain, a municipality
- Le Gros Bras (Gouffre River tributary)
- Rivière du Gouffre
- St. Lawrence River
- List of rivers of Quebec
