Métabetchouane East River facts for kids

The Métabetchouane East River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the larger Métabetchouane River. This river is found in the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve. It is part of the Lac-Jacques-Cartier area.

The main activities in this river valley are forestry and tourism. Forestry means cutting down trees for wood. Tourism means people visit for fun, like fishing or hiking. The river usually freezes from late November to early April. It's safe to walk on the ice from mid-December to late March.

River's Location and Neighbors

The Métabetchouane East River is surrounded by other rivers and lakes. Knowing its neighbors helps us understand where it flows.

Here are some of the nearby rivers and lakes:

• To the north: Métabetchouane River and Rivière aux Écorces du Milieu.
• To the east: Cavée River and Launière River.
• To the south: Liane stream, Rivière de la Place, Métabetchouane River, and Jacques-Cartier River.
• To the west: Métabetchouane River and Brûlé Lake.

Where the River Starts

The Métabetchouane East River begins at a lake called "Lac des Hautes des Terres". This lake is about 1.1 km (0.68 mi) long and sits high up at 819 m (2,687 ft) above sea level. It's surrounded by mountains.

A small stream connects this lake to "Lac de la Hauteur" to the north. Lac de la Hauteur is where the rivière aux Écorces du Milieu starts. The source of the Métabetchouane East River is about 37.4 km (23.2 mi) northeast of the main Métabetchouane River.

The River's Journey

The Métabetchouane East River flows for about 54 km (34 mi). As it flows, it drops about 375 m (1,230 ft) in elevation. This drop creates different sections of the river, from its start to where it joins the Métabetchouane River.

Upper Part of the River

The first part of the river's journey is about 18.4 km (11.4 mi) long.

• It flows south, crossing Lake Mousseau and Lake Aramis.
• It then turns south, making a big "S" shape.
• Next, it goes west, winding and bending.
• It turns northeast, then west again, picking up water from other small lakes.
• Finally, it flows southeast and south, joining more streams before reaching Missip Lake.

Middle Part of the River

The middle section of the river is about 19.3 km (12.0 mi) long.

• It flows west, sometimes winding a lot. It collects water from lakes like Nourrains and Bocage.
• It then turns southwest and northwest, meeting Maria stream.
• It continues northwest, making a bend.
• Finally, it flows southwest, collecting water from lakes like Boisseau, Dunoyon, and Étang Florissant.

Lower Part of the River

The last part of the river's journey is about 16.3 km (10.1 mi) long.

• It starts by flowing southwest in a deep valley, then turns southeast and southwest, meeting the Liane stream.
• It continues southwest, making a big "S" shape and going through some rapids. It also forms a loop to the southeast.
• Finally, it flows southwest, winding through a marshy area. This is where it meets the main Métabetchouane River.

Flowing to the Ocean

After the Métabetchouane East River joins the main Métabetchouane River, the water continues its long journey.

• The Métabetchouane River flows for about 131.5 km (81.7 mi) to the south shore of Lac Saint-Jean.
• From there, the water crosses Lac Saint-Jean for about 22.8 km (14.2 mi) to the northeast.
• Then, it flows into the Saguenay River for about 172.3 km (107.1 mi).
• The Saguenay River eventually reaches Tadoussac, where it joins the huge Saint Lawrence Estuary. This estuary is where the river meets the St. Lawrence River and flows out to the Atlantic Ocean.

Name of the River

The name "Métabetchouane" is used for several things in the area. It refers to two rivers, a lake, a city, and an old archaeological site.

The official name "Rivière Métabetchouane Est" was made official on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is a group that names places in Quebec.

More Information

You can learn more about these related topics:

• Lac-Jacques-Cartier, an unorganized territory
• Laurentides Wildlife Reserve
• Métabetchouane River
• Lac Saint-Jean, a large body of water
• Saguenay River
• St. Lawrence River
• List of rivers of Quebec