Rivière à Pierre (Batiscan River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rivière à Pierre |
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|---|---|
| Native name | Designation used by the Wendats: "Karontatehlahnon" meaning "buried in stones" |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Capitale-Nationale |
| Regional County Municipality | Portneuf Regional County Municipality |
| Unorganized territory and a municipality | Lac-Blanc and Rivière-à-Pierre |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Vautri Lake Lac-Blanc, Canton de Neilson 576 km (358 mi) 46°31′53″N 72°29′14″E / 46.531395°N 72.487241°E |
| River mouth | Batiscan River Rivière-à-Pierre 153 km (95 mi) 46°57′56″N 72°15′44″E / 46.965587°N 72.262267°E |
| Length | 42.3 km (26.3 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Rivière à Pierre (which means River of Stone in English) is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Batiscan River from its east side. This river is located in the Portneuf Regional County Municipality, within the Capitale-Nationale region.
The river's journey starts in the forests and flows towards the St. Lawrence River. Most of the area around the river is covered by forests, especially its upper parts. Near the village of Rivière-à-Pierre, you can find some farms.
For a big part of the year, from mid-December to the end of March, the river's surface is usually frozen. For a long time, since the mid-1800s, logging (cutting down trees for wood) has been a very important activity here. Later, people also started mining for marble stones, farming, and enjoying outdoor activities like tourism. The Canadian National Railway even runs alongside parts of the river!
River's Journey
The Rivière à Pierre starts in a forest area from a lake called Lac Cristal. This lake is about 457 meters (1,499 feet) above sea level. From its source, the river travels about 42.3 kilometers (26.3 miles) until it joins the Batiscan River.
Upper Part of the River
The first part of the river's journey is about 26.6 kilometers (16.5 miles) long. It flows mostly southwest, passing by several smaller lakes and streams that join it. It goes through a deep valley before reaching Lac du Dépôt.
Lower Part of the River
The last part of the river is about 15.7 kilometers (9.8 miles) long. It crosses Lac du Dépôt, which is a lake about 1.7 kilometers (1.1 miles) long. As it gets closer to the village of Rivière-à-Pierre, another river called the Blanche River joins it. The Rivière à Pierre then flows right through the village, even passing under a railway bridge. It continues southwest, going over several small waterfalls and rapids, until it finally meets the Batiscan River.
The Rivière à Pierre joins the Batiscan River in the municipality of Rivière-à-Pierre. This meeting point is about 7.4 kilometers (4.6 miles) southwest of the village center.
How the River Got Its Name
The name "Rivière à Pierre" means "River of Stone." This name was first written down in survey reports way back in 1829. People believe the river got its name because its bed is very stony, and there are many rocks around its edges.
Some people thought the river was named after a pioneer (an early settler) named Pierre Beaupré, who lived by the river in the late 1800s. However, since the name was used much earlier, in 1829, it's more likely that the stony nature of the river itself inspired its name. The stone quarries (places where stones are dug out) only started in the 1880s, so they couldn't have been the reason for the name either.
The name "Rivière à Pierre" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is the organization in charge of place names in Quebec.
