Rivière à Pierre (Ha! Ha! River tributary) facts for kids

The Rivière à Pierre (which means Pierre's River in English) is a stream that flows through Quebec, Canada. It runs through two main areas:

• The Capitale-Nationale region, specifically the Charlevoix Regional County Municipality within the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve.
• The Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region, in the Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality, passing through the town of Ferland-et-Boilleau.

This river valley is important for both forestry (cutting down trees for wood) and recreational tourism (fun activities like hiking or fishing). These are the two main ways people use the area.

The surface of the Rivière à Pierre usually freezes over from early December until late March. It's generally safe to walk or play on the ice from mid-December to mid-March.

Where Does the Rivière à Pierre Flow?

The Rivière à Pierre is surrounded by many other rivers and lakes. Here are some of the main ones nearby:

• To the North: The Ha! Ha! River, Bras d'Hamel, Bras de Coco, Bras Rocheux, and the Saguenay River.
• To the East: Cinto Lake, Ha! Ha! River, Cruche River, Lake Ha! Ha!, and the Malbaie River.
• To the South: The rivière à Mars, Rivière à Mars North-West, Goéland Lake, Goéland stream, Rivière du Chemin des Canots, and the Porc-Épic River.
• To the West: The Bras du Diable, rivière à Mars, and Rivière à Mars North-West.

Where Does the River Start?

The Rivière à Pierre begins at Girard Lake, which is located in the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve. The lake is about 668 m (2,192 ft) above sea level. This starting point is:

• 1.4 km (0.87 mi) northeast of a bend in the rivière à Mars.
• 4.5 km (2.8 mi) northwest of Cinto Lake.
• 12.2 km (7.6 mi) southwest of where the Rivière à Pierre joins Lake Ha! Ha!.
• 40.1 km (24.9 mi) south of where Lake Ha! Ha! meets the Baie des Ha! Ha!.

The River's Journey

The Rivière à Pierre flows for about 19.8 km (12.3 mi) from Girard Lake until it reaches its end. Here's how its journey goes:

• For the first 0.4 km (0.25 mi), it flows east within the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve.
• Then, it turns north for 5.0 km (3.1 mi), following the base of a tall mountain. During this part, it crosses "Lac à Pierre" (Pierre Lake), which is 0.7 km (0.43 mi) long and 593 m (1,946 ft) high. It then continues northeast to the edge of the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve.
• Next, it flows northeast for 0.8 km (0.50 mi) into the town of Ferland-et-Boilleau, moving through a deep valley.
• It then heads north for 3.4 km (2.1 mi).
• After that, it continues north for 2.1 km (1.3 mi).
• The river then flows northeast for 4.6 km (2.9 mi) through a steep valley.
• Finally, it travels southeast for 3.5 km (2.2 mi) to its mouth.

Where Does the River End?

The Rivière à Pierre empties into a small bay on the western side of Lake Ha! Ha!. This ending point is located:

• 2.6 km (1.6 mi) southwest of the dam at the outlet of Lake Ha! Ha!.
• 5.6 km (3.5 mi) south of the village center of Boileau, which is part of Ferland-et-Boilleau.
• 30.0 km (18.6 mi) southeast of where the Ha! Ha! River meets the Baie des Ha! Ha!.
• 44.7 km (27.8 mi) southeast of downtown Saguenay.
• 85.0 km (52.8 mi) southwest of where the Saguenay River joins the Saint Lawrence Estuary.

From Lake Ha! Ha!, the water from the Rivière à Pierre flows into the Ha! Ha! River for 38.9 km (24.2 mi) north. It then crosses the Baie des Ha! Ha! for 11.0 km (6.8 mi) northeast. After that, it follows the Saguenay River for 99.5 km (61.8 mi) east to Tadoussac, where it finally joins the large Saint Lawrence Estuary.

What's in a Name?

The name "Rivière à Pierre" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is a group in Quebec responsible for naming places.