Rivière Jacques-Cartier Nord-Ouest facts for kids

The Jacques-Cartier North-West River is a waterway in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Jacques-Cartier River. This river is found in the Lac-Jacques-Cartier area. This area is part of the La Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality. The river also flows through Jacques-Cartier National Park. A major lake connected to it is Petit lac Jacques-Cartier.

The main activity in this area is forestry, which means cutting down trees for wood. Tourism, like visiting for fun, is the second most important activity.

The river's surface usually freezes from early December to late March. It's generally safe to walk on the ice from late December to early March.

Exploring the Jacques-Cartier North-West River

This river is about 41.5 km (25.8 mi) long. It starts high up and flows down, dropping 441 m (1,447 ft) in total.

Where Does the River Start?

The Jacques-Cartier North-West River begins at Brassoit Lake. This lake is about 1.0 km (0.62 mi) long. It sits high up at an altitude of 781 m (2,562 ft). Brassoit Lake is located in the Lac-Jacques-Cartier area.

The River's Journey

From Brassoit Lake, the river flows through different sections.

Upper River Course

The first part of the river's journey is about 17.6 km (10.9 mi).

• It flows west, curving around mountains.
• It crosses Chapleau Lakes.
• It then flows through Lake Garant and other lakes like Lake Sol and Lake La.
• Interestingly, some lakes in this area are named after musical notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, and Si.
• The river also passes through rapids and lakes such as Lac Obéron and Lac Boyd.
• It continues through Lake Viner, Lake James, and Lake Verreault.

Middle River Course

The next section of the river is about 12.2 km (7.6 mi) long.

• It flows south through Lake Achilles.
• It goes over five sets of rapids.
• It collects water from other lakes like Bolo, Cardinal, Barbara, and Aigrette.
• It then flows southeast, crossing Lake Charles-Savary. This lake has a dam.
• It also connects to the Rivière Jacques-Cartier Sud, which flows from Petit lac Jacques-Cartier.

Lower River Course

The last part of the river's journey is about 11.7 km (7.3 mi).

• It flows northeast, then southeast, through a deep valley with nine sets of rapids.
• It then turns northeast and south.
• In this section, the river flows at the base of a very tall cliff called "Paroi de la Cascade." This cliff rises 379 m (1,243 ft) above the water!

After the Jacques-Cartier North-West River joins the main Jacques-Cartier River, the water flows for another 60.2 km (37.4 mi) south. Finally, it reaches the Saint Lawrence River.

Why is it Called Jacques-Cartier?

The name "Rivière Jacques-Cartier Nord-Ouest" honors Jacques Cartier (1491-1557). He was a famous navigator and explorer from Saint-Malo, France.

Jacques Cartier's Adventures

Jacques Cartier made three important trips to Canada between 1534 and 1541.

• In 1534, he was sent by King François I to find gold and a way to Asia. He explored Chaleur Bay and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, but didn't go past Anticosti Island.
• In 1535, on his second trip, he traveled to Hochelaga (which is now Montreal). He spent the winter in Stadaconé (now Quebec City). He also saw tall mountains near the sea, which he described as "marvelous."
• In 1541, Cartier helped set up the first French colony in America. He built two forts near the Cap Rouge river. He spent another winter there.
• In 1542, Cartier left the colony. He met Jean-François de La Rocque de Roberval in Newfoundland. Roberval wanted Cartier to return to Cap-Rouge, but Cartier secretly left during the night.
• When Cartier returned to France, he found that the "gold" he brought back was actually iron pyrite, also known as "fool's gold." His "diamonds" were just quartz or mica.

The name "Rivière Jacques-Cartier Nord-Ouest" 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.