Morin River facts for kids

The Morin River is a cool waterway in Quebec, Canada. It's a branch of the Rivière aux Écorces. This river flows through a special area called Lac-Ministuk, which is part of the Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality. The Morin River also crosses the northwestern part of the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve.

The river valley is quite small and is close to Route 169. There are also some smaller forest roads that help people get around. These roads are mainly used for logging and for fun outdoor activities like tourism.

Logging is the main way people make a living in this valley. Outdoor fun and tourism come in second.

The Morin River usually freezes over from early December until the end of March. But it's generally safe to walk or play on the ice from mid-December to mid-March.

Exploring the Morin River's Path

This river flows next to the Rivière aux Écorces before joining it near the Sawine River. The Morin River helps drain water from lakes like Lake Morin and Lake Cadieux. Lake Morin is about 0.98 square kilometers (0.38 square miles), and Lake Cadieux is about 0.05 square kilometers (0.02 square miles).

The Morin River crosses the main road that connects Quebec City to Lac-Saint-Jean. Both the lake and the river are popular spots for fishing, especially for speckled trout!

Where the River Begins

The Morin River starts from a mountain stream in a forest area within the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve. This starting point is about 590 meters (1,936 feet) high.

Here's a quick look at where the river begins:

• 6.0 kilometers (3.7 miles) south of Morin Lake.
• 3.8 kilometers (2.4 miles) west of Pika Lake.
• 5.0 kilometers (3.1 miles) north of the Rivière aux Canots.
• 6.6 kilometers (4.1 miles) east of the Rivière aux Écorces.
• 10.6 kilometers (6.6 miles) southwest of Route 169.

The River's Journey

From its source, the Morin River flows for about 33.1 kilometers (20.6 miles). It drops about 250 meters (820 feet) in height along its journey, all through forested areas.

• Upper Part: The first 9.5 kilometers (5.9 miles) of the river flow mostly north. It passes by the outlet of Lac des Panicauts and Lac Cadieux.
• Middle Part: The next 13.7 kilometers (8.5 miles) flow northwest. The river makes some turns and loops, passing by Choquette Lake and eventually going under the Route 169 bridge.
• Lower Part: The final 9.9 kilometers (6.2 miles) flow northwest and then northeast. In this section, the river widens to form Lake Gatien and Lake Arche, which are surrounded by marshy areas.

Where the River Ends

The Morin River flows into the south bank of the Rivière aux Écorces. This meeting point is:

• 0.3 kilometers (0.2 miles) southwest of where the Sawine River joins the Rivière aux Écorces.
• 7.9 kilometers (4.9 miles) west of the Pikauba River.
• 22.0 kilometers (13.7 miles) north of where the Morin River starts.

After the Morin River joins the Rivière aux Écorces, the water continues its journey:

• It flows for 13.6 kilometers (8.5 miles) northeast along the Rivière aux Écorces.
• Then, it follows the Pikauba River for 10.6 kilometers (6.6 miles) north.
• It crosses Kenogami Lake for 17.6 kilometers (10.9 miles) northeast.
• Finally, it joins the Chicoutimi River for 26.2 kilometers (16.3 miles) east, and then the Saguenay River for 114.6 kilometers (71.2 miles) east to Tadoussac. There, it flows into the Saint Lawrence Estuary.

Why is it Called Morin River?

This river first appeared on a map in 1914 with the name "Rivière Vaseuse." Later, in 1928, it was also called "Rivière Morin." This name stuck and was used on maps in 1943 and 1954.

The name "Morin" comes from a person named Joseph Morin (1854-1915). He was a merchant and a farmer. He also worked as a secretary-treasurer for a local government. Later, he became a politician, serving as a Liberal Member of Parliament from 1886 to 1897, and again in 1900. After leaving politics, he became the governor of the prison in Quebec City from 1906 to 1915.

There are more than a hundred places in Quebec, mostly lakes and small rivers, named after people with the last name Morin!

The name "Rivière Morin" officially became its name on December 5, 1968.

Related Articles

• Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality
• Lac-Ministuk, an unorganized territory
• Laurentides Wildlife Reserve
• Rivière aux Écorces
• Pikauba River
• Kenogami Lake
• Chicoutimi River
• Saguenay River
• List of rivers of Quebec