Petite rivière Malbaie facts for kids

The Petite rivière Malbaie (which means Little Malbaie River in English) is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Malbaie River from its east side. This river is located in an area called Lac-Pikauba, which is part of the Charlevoix Regional County Municipality.

The Petite rivière Malbaie flows through two important natural areas: the zec des Martres and Grands-Jardins National Park. A forest road, Route 381, helps people get to the middle part of this river valley. The main activities here are forestry (cutting down trees) and tourism (people visiting for fun).

The river usually freezes from late November to early March. It's safest to walk or move on the ice from early December to early April. The amount of water in the river changes with the seasons and how much it rains or snows. The biggest flow of water, called the spring flood, usually happens in April.

Where the River Flows

The Petite rivière Malbaie starts at a lake called Petit lac Malbaie. This lake is about 2.6 kilometers long and sits high up at 861 meters above sea level. It's in a forest area within the zec des Martres. The lake is surrounded by mountains, especially cliffs on its eastern side.

Starting Point: Petit Lac Malbaie

Petit lac Malbaie gets its water from several small lakes and two small streams. The river begins at the southwest part of this lake. From there, it flows for about 13.6 kilometers, dropping about 201 meters in height along the way.

Here's a simpler look at its journey:

• It flows west for about 0.8 km, picking up water from a small lake.
• Then, it turns northeast.
• It goes west again for 1.5 km, passing through Lac de la Mine and another lake.
• Next, it heads southwest and then south for 3.4 km. Along this part, it collects water from Lac Rocheux and Lac Amik. It also crosses Route 381.
• For 2.5 km, it flows south, running alongside Route 381 and passing Mont René-Richard.
• It then crosses Malbaie Pond for 2.3 km. This pond receives water from Lac de la Galette and Lac Rameau.
• Finally, it flows southeast for 2.3 km, going through rapids and a deep valley. It picks up water from Lac Pointu.
• The last 0.8 km of the river flows northwest to its end.

Where the River Ends

The Petite rivière Malbaie empties into the Malbaie River. This meeting point is located in Lac-Pikauba. It's about 5.2 km northwest of lac Sainte-Anne du Nord.

How the River Got Its Name

The name "Petite rivière Malbaie" means "Little Malbaie River." It was first mentioned a long time ago, in 1731, by Louis Aubert de Lachesnaye in his journal. He called it "Petite riviere de la Malbaye."

This name also appeared on old maps, like the Laurentides Park map (which is now part of Grands-Jardins National Park) and a regional map from 1943. Sometimes, it was simply called "Rivière Petite." The official name "Petite rivière Malbaie" was formally recognized on December 5, 1968, by the Quebec Place Names Bank.

Related Places

• Charlevoix Regional County Municipality
• Lac-Pikauba, an unorganized territory
• Zec des Martres
• Grands-Jardins National Park
• Petit lac Malbaie
• Malbaie Pond (French: Étang Malbaie)
• Malbaie River
• St. Lawrence River
• List of rivers of Quebec