Rivière à l'Ours (rivière des Aulnaies) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rivière à l'Ours |
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|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean |
| MRC | Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lac à l'Ours Bégin 191 m (627 ft) 48°42′46″N 71°15′11″W / 48.71278°N 71.25306°W |
| River mouth | Rivière des Aulnaies Saint-Ambroise 120 m (390 ft) 48°44′22″N 71°08′17″W / 48.73944°N 71.13806°W |
| Length | 19.8 km (12.3 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Rivière à l'Ours (which means Bear River in English) is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Rivière des Aulnaies. This river is located on the northwest side of the Saint Lawrence River. It passes through the towns of Bégin and Saint-Ambroise. Both towns are in the Fjord-du-Saguenay area of the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region.
The area around the Rivière à l'Ours is called its watershed. This means all the land where water drains into the river. Roads like rue Simard and chemin du rang des Chutes help people get around this area. There are also smaller forest roads in the higher parts of the watershed.
The main jobs in this river area are forestry (cutting down trees) and agriculture (farming). The river's surface usually freezes over from late November until early April. It's generally safe to walk or play on the ice from mid-December to late March.
Contents
River's Location and Neighbors
The Rivière à l'Ours is surrounded by other rivers and lakes. These are its "neighbors" in terms of water flow. Knowing them helps us understand where the river's water comes from and where it goes.
- North side: You'll find Lac à l'Ours, Lac La Mothe, Tchitogama Lake, and the Shipshaw River. Other streams like Le Petit Bras and Ruisseau à Néron are also here. The Blanche River also connects through Tchitogama Lake.
- East side: The Shipshaw River continues here, along with Grenon Lake, Rivière aux Vases, Caribou River, and the Valin River.
- South side: The mighty Saguenay River and the Rivière des Aulnaies are to the south.
- West side: To the west are the Rivière aux Sables, Péribonka River, Mistouk River, rivière aux Harts, rivière à la Pipe, and lac Saint-Jean.
Where the River Starts
The Rivière à l'Ours begins at a lake called Lac à l'Ours (Bear Lake). This lake is about 1.4 kilometers (0.9 miles) long and sits at an elevation of 191 meters (627 feet) above sea level.
This starting point is in the town of Bégin. From here, it's:
- 21.1 kilometers (13.1 miles) southeast of where Tchitogama Lake meets the Péribonka River.
- 4.0 kilometers (2.5 miles) southwest of La Mothe Lake.
- 26.3 meters (86 feet) north of the Saguenay River.
- 18.4 kilometers (11.4 miles) north of where the Rivière à l'Ours ends by joining the Rivière des Aulnaies.
The River's Journey
The Rivière à l'Ours flows for about 19.8 kilometers (12.3 miles). It travels through forests, farmlands, and even some village areas.
Here's how its journey unfolds:
- For the first 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles), it flows southeast. It crosses Lac Bouleau and then turns east before heading southeast again. It passes through Lac des Îles, which is 2.7 kilometers (1.7 miles) long and 208 meters (682 feet) high.
- Next, it travels 11.7 kilometers (7.3 miles) southwest to a stream called Le Petit Bras. Then it turns south, crossing Chemin Truchon. It also crosses the border between Bégin and Saint-Ambroise before reaching a bridge on chemin du 2nd rang Est.
- For 3.9 kilometers (2.4 miles), it flows southwest. It crosses the path of 9th rang and winds alongside the path of rang des Chutes, until it reaches rue Simard.
- Finally, it flows 0.7 kilometers (0.4 miles) south. It collects water from the Sault stream (which comes from the east) and passes west of the village of Saint-Ambroise. This is where the river ends its journey.
Where the River Ends
The Rivière à l'Ours flows into the northeast bank of the Rivière des Aulnaies.
This meeting point is located:
- 8.5 kilometers (5.3 miles) northwest of where the Rivière aux Aulnaies (Saguenay River) joins the Saguenay River.
- 14.5 kilometers (9.0 miles) northwest of the Shipshaw powerhouse dam on the Saguenay River.
- 23.8 kilometers (14.8 miles) northwest of downtown Saguenay.
- 5.1 kilometers (3.2 miles) west of the Shipshaw River.
- 127 kilometers (79 miles) west of where the Saguenay River meets the St. Lawrence River.
The Name "Rivière à l'Ours"
The name "Rivière à l'Ours" means "Bear River." This name was first mentioned in a report about the Bégin area in 1895 by a land surveyor named Jean Maltais.
The official name "Rivière à l'Ours" was formally recognized on April 8, 1975. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is the organization in Quebec responsible for place names.
