Niagarette River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Niagarette River |
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|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region administrative | Capitale-Nationale, Mauricie |
| Regional County Municipality | Portneuf Regional County Municipality |
| Municipalities | Saint-Ubalde, Saint-Thuribe, Saint-Casimir |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Little unidentified lake Saint-Ubalde, MRC Portneuf Regional County Municipality 138 m (453 ft) 46°44′15″N 72°12′48″W / 46.73738°N 72.21338°W |
| River mouth | Blanche River Saint-Casimir 30 m (98 ft) 46°39′08″N 72°08′28″W / 46.65222°N 72.14111°W |
| Length | 20.3 km (12.6 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Niagarette River is a small river in Quebec, Canada. It flows through the towns of Saint-Ubalde, Saint-Thuribe, and Saint-Casimir. These towns are part of the Portneuf Regional County Municipality in the Capitale-Nationale region.
The first part of the river, about 5.4 kilometres (3.4 mi) long, flows through a forest. The rest of the river's path goes through farmland. Near its end, it passes south of the village of Saint-Casimir.
The Niagarette River usually freezes over from early December to late March. It's generally safe to walk on the ice from late December to early March.
Contents
River's Path and Surroundings
The area of land that drains into the Niagarette River, called its watershed, covers about 54.31 square kilometres (20.97 sq mi). This means all the rain and snow that falls in this area eventually flows into the river.
Where the River Starts
The Niagarette River begins in a small, unnamed lake. This lake is located in a forest in the eastern part of Saint-Ubalde. The lake is about 138 metres (453 ft) above sea level.
This starting point is about 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi) east of the center of Saint-Ubalde village. It's also about 10.8 kilometres (6.7 mi) northwest of where the Niagarette River joins the Sainte-Anne River.
How the River Flows
From its source, the Niagarette River flows for 20.3 kilometres (12.6 mi). During its journey, it drops about 108 metres (354 ft) in height. This drop shows how much the river goes downhill from its start to its end.
The river's main branch, the Petite rivière Niagarette, joins it about 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) before it reaches its mouth. The river's slope is mostly gentle, except for the first five kilometers upstream.
The Niagarette River flows in several sections:
- It flows 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi) to the west.
- Then, it turns east for 3.7 kilometres (2.3 mi) until it leaves the forest.
- It flows southeast for 4.1 kilometres (2.5 mi) until it meets the Rang Saint-David River.
- Next, it meanders (winds) southeast for 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) through farmland.
- It continues southeast, winding for 3.7 kilometres (2.3 mi) to a railway bridge.
- It flows southeast for 2.0 kilometres (1.2 mi), winding through farmland and crossing Quebec Route 363. Here, it meets the Petite rivière Niagarette.
- Finally, it flows east for 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi), making a few loops south of Saint-Casimir village, until it reaches its mouth.
Where the River Ends
After crossing Quebec Route 354, the Niagarette River flows into the Sainte-Anne River. This meeting point is about 0.4 kilometres (0.25 mi) south of the village bridge in Saint-Casimir. From there, the water flows south for 0.9 kilometres (0.56 mi) along the Sainte-Anne River until it reaches the St. Lawrence River.
About 60% of the land in the Niagarette River's basin is used for agriculture. This makes it a very important farming area within the larger Sainte-Anne River basin.
River's Past Events
The Niagarette River has caused two big floods in its history, in 1939 and 1973.
The 1939 Flood
On August 10, 1939, heavy erosion from the Niagarette River damaged cement walls and protective rocks near buildings south of Saint-Casimir. This sudden flood also damaged Quebec Route 363. It even swept away the homes of two families, Réjean Lépine and Rolland Duchesneau, along with parts of their land. Other houses were also damaged.
Dam and Diversion Projects
In 1986, the town of Saint-Casimir asked to rebuild a dam on the Niagarette River. This dam was meant to help with the town's water supply.
In 1998, the town had a plan to change the river's path. The idea was to make the Niagarette River flow in a straighter line. This would help solve problems with ice jams during snowmelt, which often caused flooding. The river at that time had a large bend over 200 meters long, which made ice jams worse.
What's in a Name?
The name "Niagarette River" has sometimes been spelled "Naigarette River" in older records from the late 1800s.
The name "Niagarette" might be a smaller version of "Niagara," like in Niagara Falls. The word "Niagara" comes from the Iroquois language and means "to resonate" or "to make noise." This could refer to the sound of the river's water.
The official name "Niagarette River" was formally recognized on August 17, 1978. This happened at the Place Names Bank of the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a government office for naming places in Quebec.
