Rivière à la Loutre (Gouffre River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rivière à la Loutre |
|
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Capitale-Nationale |
| Regional County Municipality | Charlevoix Regional County Municipality and Charlevoix-Est |
| Unorganized territory and municipality | Saint-Hilarion and Notre-Dame-des-Monts |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Small lake in agricultural area Saint-Hilarion 376 m (1,234 ft) 47°35′36″N 70°25′47″W / 47.59322°N 70.42962°W |
| River mouth | Rivière du Gouffre Notre-Dame-des-Monts 210 m (690 ft) 47°38′58″N 70°27′07″E / 47.64944°N 70.45194°E |
| Length | 8.5 km (5.3 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Rivière à la Loutre (which means 'Otter River' in French) is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Rivière du Gouffre. This river runs through two main areas: Charlevoix-Est (in Notre-Dame-des-Monts) and Charlevoix Regional County Municipality (in Saint-Hilarion).
Roads like Chicago West, Cartier, and Saint-Antoine help people get around the river valley. The main jobs in this area are farming and forestry (working with trees). The river usually freezes from early December to early April, and it's generally safe to be on the ice from mid-December to late March. The amount of water in the river changes with the seasons and how much rain or snow falls. A big increase in water, called a spring flood, usually happens in April.
Where the River Starts
The Rivière à la Loutre begins in a small lake in a farming area. This lake is about 0.1 kilometres (0.062 mi) long and sits 376 metres (1,234 ft) above sea level. The lake's outlet is on its west side.
This starting point is:
- 2.7 kilometres (1.7 mi) west of Route 138.
- 3.1 kilometres (1.9 mi) north-west of the village of Saint-Hilarion.
- 17.3 kilometres (10.7 mi) south-west of the Saint-Laurent River (near Saint-Irénée).
- 17.7 kilometres (11.0 mi) north of downtown Baie-Saint-Paul.
The River's Journey
From its source, the Rivière à la Loutre flows for about 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi) through a valley. The river drops about 166 metres (545 ft) in height along its path.
Here's how the river flows:
- It travels 0.6 kilometres (0.37 mi) north through farmland, crossing the 5th range road and a small lake with a dam.
- Then, it goes 2.0 kilometres (1.2 mi) northwest through more farmland. It curves southwest, then northeast, passing through Lac à Marcel-Audet for its entire length. This lake has marshy areas.
- Next, it flows 1.1 kilometres (0.68 mi) north, crossing the 6th range road. It goes through another dammed lake, which is like an extension of Lac à Marcel-Audet, and then a second small dammed lake, reaching Cartier road.
- It continues 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi) north, passing through a small lake and picking up water from a stream, until it reaches Chemin du rang Saint-Antoine.
- It then flows 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) northwest, reaching the range road from Chicago West.
- Finally, it travels 0.7 kilometres (0.43 mi) north, collecting water from Lake to Lucien Simard, before reaching its mouth.
Where the River Ends
The Rivière à la Loutre flows into the Rivière du Gouffre on its east bank, in the area of Notre-Dame-des-Monts.
This meeting point is located:
- 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) downstream from where the Rivière du Gouffre Sud-Ouest joins.
- 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi) southwest of the village of Notre-Dame-des-Monts.
- 9.3 kilometres (5.8 mi) northwest of the village of Saint-Hilarion.
- 23.5 kilometres (14.6 mi) northwest of Baie-Saint-Paul town center.
- 22.7 kilometres (14.1 mi) southwest of downtown La Malbaie.
From the mouth of the Rivière à la Loutre, the water continues for 40.1 kilometres (24.9 mi) along the Rivière du Gouffre. The Rivière du Gouffre then empties into the St. Lawrence River at Baie-Saint-Paul.
River's Name
The name "Rivière à la Loutre" was officially recognized on February 25, 1976, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a place names board for Quebec.
