Petite rivière aux Pins facts for kids

The Petite rivière aux Pins is a small river in Quebec, Canada. It flows completely within the area of Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier. This river is a branch of the Rivière aux Pins.

The valley of the Petite rivière aux Pins is mostly covered by forests. Logging, or cutting down trees for wood, is the main activity here. People also enjoy visiting the area for fun, like hiking or other outdoor activities.

The river usually freezes over in early December. It stays frozen until the end of March. It is generally safe to walk or play on the ice from late December to early March. The amount of water in the river changes with the seasons. It also changes depending on how much rain or snow falls.

Where the River Flows

The Source of the Petite Rivière aux Pins

The Petite rivière aux Pins starts from a lake in Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier. This lake is about 0.5 kilometres (0.31 mi) long. It sits high up in the mountains, at an altitude of 453 metres (1,486 ft). The lake is in a forest area. It is just outside the Tantaré ecological reserve.

The start of the river is about 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) west of the Jacques-Cartier River. It is also about 5.0 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of where the Petite rivière aux Pins joins the Rivière aux Pins.

The River's Journey

From its source lake, the Petite rivière aux Pins flows for about 7.0 kilometres (4.3 mi). During its journey, the river drops about 299 metres (981 ft) in height.

• For the first 4.0 kilometres (2.5 mi), it flows mostly south. It picks up water from two small streams along the way.
• Then, for about 2.9 kilometres (1.8 mi), it continues south. It collects water from Lake Cattolica and other small lakes.
• Finally, for a short 0.1 kilometres (0.062 mi), it flows west to its end.

Joining Other Rivers

The Petite rivière aux Pins joins the Rivière aux Pins. This meeting point is about 5.1 kilometres (3.2 mi) west of the Jacques-Cartier River. It is also about 6.0 kilometres (3.7 mi) northwest of the village of Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier.

From this meeting point, the water flows further:

• It travels about 26.6 kilometres (16.5 mi) south along the Rivière aux Pins. This leads to the northern part of Lac Saint-Joseph.
• It then crosses Lac Saint-Joseph for about 3.9 kilometres (2.4 mi).
• After the lake, it follows the Ontaritzi River for 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi).
• Finally, it flows along the Jacques-Cartier River for 15.4 kilometres (9.6 mi). This journey ends when the water reaches the mighty Saint-Laurent River.

Why the Name "Petite rivière aux Pins"?

The Meaning of "Pins"

The word "Pins" means "pines" in French. Pine trees are very common in eastern Canada. People have used pine wood for many things. It was used for firewood to keep warm. It was also used to build houses and make furniture. Pine wood is soft and easy to cut and shape.

The name "pine" is often used in place names across Quebec. This shows how important these trees were to the area.

The official name "Petite rivière aux Pins" was given on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which names places in Quebec.

Related Articles

• Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, a town
• Lac-Saint-Joseph, a town
• La Jacques-Cartier Regional County Municipality (MRC)
• Saint-Joseph Lake (La Jacques-Cartier), a body of water
• Mont Sorrel (Quebec), a mountain east of Saint-Joseph Lake
• Rivière aux Pins
• Jacques-Cartier River
• Capitale-Nationale, an administrative region
• Tantaré ecological reserve
• List of rivers of Quebec