Mékinac River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mékinac River |
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 Location in Quebec
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| Country | Canada, in province of Quebec |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Mékinac Lake |
| River mouth | Saint-Maurice River in Trois-Rives |
| Length | 26 km (16 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 1,124 km2 (434 sq mi) |
The Mékinac River is a cool river found in the Mekinac Regional County Municipality in Quebec, Canada. It's in the middle part of a region called Mauricie. This river was super important for the logging industry back in the late 1800s!
Contents
River's Journey
The Mékinac River is about 26 kilometers (16 miles) long. It starts in Mékinac Lake and flows south. The river then joins the big Saint-Maurice River near a place called Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac.
The end of the Mékinac River is almost directly across from Mekinac Island. This island is on the west side of the Saint-Maurice River.
Where the River Flows
The Mékinac River mostly flows through farms. Sometimes it also goes through forests. It even passes right through the village of Saint-Joseph-de-Mékinac.
The river has many fast-moving parts called rapids. This means boats with a shallow bottom can only use certain parts. This is especially true in spring or when there aren't big floods.
Winter on the River
The Mékinac River usually freezes over in winter. This happens from December until late March. However, some parts with strong rapids might not freeze completely.
Dams and Lakes
There's a dam that is 6.8 meters (22 feet) tall at the start of the Mékinac Lake. This dam is managed by Hydro-Québec. Water from Missionary Lake also flows into Mékinac Lake, close to the dam.
Streams Joining the River
As the Mékinac River flows, other smaller streams join it.
- On its right side, it gets water from the Dumont stream.
- On its left side, it gets water from the Thom and Vlimeux streams.
The Thom stream starts at Lake Thom, and the Vlimeux stream starts at Lake Vlimeux.
The Mékinac River also flows along the northern edge of Lejeune township. This area is in the northern part of the municipality of Sainte-Thècle.
Roads and Recreation
A road connects the village of Saint-Joseph-de-Mékinac to where the river ends. This road runs along the south side of the river.
Both Missionary Lake and Mékinac Lake are popular spots for fun activities. People love to go on vacations, camp, boat, and stay in cottages there.
What's in a Name?
The name "Mékinac" comes from an Algonquin word. In Algonquin, "Mikinak" means "turtle." So, the river is named after turtles!
