Petites Îles River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rivière des Petites Îles (River of Little Island) |
|
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean |
| Regional County Municipality | Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality |
| Municipalities | Petit-Saguenay and Baie-Sainte-Catherine |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lake Ovila-Lavoie Petit-Saguenay 129 m (423 ft) 48°09′20″N 69°57′26″W / 48.15559°N 69.95730°W |
| River mouth | Saguenay River Baie-Sainte-Catherine 3 m (9.8 ft) 48°09′03″N 69°57′29″E / 48.15092°N 69.95794°E |
| Length | 9.7 km (6.0 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
|
The Rivière des Petites Îles (which means 'River of Little Islands') is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Saguenay River from its south side. This river passes through the towns of Petit-Saguenay and Baie-Sainte-Catherine.
Even though the area around the river is mountainous, there are small roads. These roads are used for logging and for people visiting for fun, like hiking or fishing. Logging is the main business here, followed by tourism.
The river usually freezes from early December to late March. It's safest to walk or play on the ice from mid-December to mid-March.
Contents
River Journey: Where the Petites Îles River Flows
The Petites Îles River is surrounded by other important water areas. These are called hydrographic slopes.
- To the north: The Saguenay River.
- To the east: The St. Lawrence River.
- To the south: The Petit Saguenay River.
- To the west: The Petit Saguenay River and the Cabanage River.
Where the River Starts
The Petites Îles River begins at Lake Ovila-Lavoie. This lake is its source.
- It is about 5.9 kilometers (3.7 miles) southwest of where the river ends.
- It is about 6.8 kilometers (4.2 miles) east of a bend in the Petit Saguenay River.
- It is about 18.4 kilometers (11.4 miles) west of the mouth of the Saguenay River.
- It is about 10.5 kilometers (6.5 miles) southeast of the village of Petit-Saguenay.
The River's Path
From Lake Ovila-Lavoie, the Petites Îles River flows for about 9.7 kilometers (6 miles). Here's how it flows:
- For 0.6 kilometers (0.4 miles), it flows north. It meets water from lakes like Pipiche, Coquille, Île, and L'Orme.
- For 2.8 kilometers (1.7 miles), it flows northeast. It makes a curve to the south and goes through some rapids. It then meets water from Lac du Compte.
- For 2.2 kilometers (1.4 miles), it flows northeast through a steep valley. It meets water from Lac des Couteaux.
- For 4.1 kilometers (2.5 miles), it flows east. This part of the river goes through the Saguenay Fjord National Park.
Where the River Ends
The Petites Îles River ends in a small bay called Anse aux Petites Îles. This bay is on the south side of the Saguenay River. It is in the northwestern part of Baie-Sainte-Catherine.
- It is about 26.3 kilometers (16.3 miles) east of the village of L'Anse-Saint-Jean.
- It is about 18.2 kilometers (11.3 miles) east of where the Petit Saguenay River meets the Saguenay River.
- It is about 15.6 kilometers (9.7 miles) west of Tadoussac.
What's in a Name?
The name "Rivière des Petites Îles" means "River of Little Islands." This name comes from two small islands found in the bay where the river meets the Saguenay River. One of these islands is called Coquart Island. It is named after a Jesuit priest, Claude-Godefroy Coquart, who was born in France in 1706. The bay itself, "Anse aux Petites Îles," is bordered by "Pointe aux Petites Îles" to the north.
The name "Rivière des Petites Îles" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is in charge of place names in Quebec.
