Rivière Pot au Beurre (Yamaska River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rivière Pot au Beurre |
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|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Montérégie |
| MRC | Pierre-De Saurel Regional County Municipality |
| Municipality | Yamaska, Sainte-Victoire-de-Sorel |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lemoine River and ruisseau des Benoit Sainte-Victoire-de-Sorel 18 m (59 ft) 45°56′18″N 73°05′47″W / 45.93833°N 73.09639°W |
| River mouth | Yamaska River Yamaska 6 m (20 ft) 45°04′50″N 72°57′06″W / 45.08056°N 72.95167°W |
| Length | 25.6 km (15.9 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Rivière Pot au Beurre is a river in Quebec, Canada. It's like a smaller stream that flows into a bigger river, the Yamaska River. This river travels northeast through towns like Sainte-Victoire-de-Sorel and Yamaska. It's located in the Montérégie region, which is on the south side of the big Saint Lawrence River.
Contents
Where the Pot au Beurre River Flows
The Pot au Beurre river is surrounded by other important waterways.
- To the north, you'll find the Yamaska River and Lake Saint Pierre.
- To the east, there's the Lemoine River and more of the Yamaska River.
- To the south, it's near the Lemoine River, Petite rivière Bellevue, and Salvail River.
- To the west, it's close to the Richelieu River.
The River's Beginning
The Pot au Beurre river starts in an area mostly used for farming. Its source is about 1.3 kilometers south of the village of Sainte-Victoire-de-Sorel in Montérégie. It begins where two smaller streams, the Lemoine river and the Benoit stream, meet.
The River's Journey
From its start, the Pot au Beurre river flows for about 25.6 kilometers. As it travels, its elevation drops by about 12 meters.
First Part of the Journey
For the first 1.9 kilometers, the river flows north. It winds through farmland. It crosses Quebec Route 239 about 0.7 kilometers west of Sainte-Victoire-de-Sorel village. Along this part, roads like Chemin du Rang Fleury and Chemin du Rang Nord run alongside it.
Middle Part of the Journey
After crossing Route 239, the river continues for 11.5 kilometers. It flows northeast through more farmland. It passes the Cournoyer stream and the Ruisseau des Tillon. This section ends when it reaches Quebec Route 132. Roads like Chemin Sainte-Victoire and Chemin du Rang Nord follow this part of the river.
Last Part of the Journey
The river's journey continues for another 12.2 kilometers. It flows northeast through farmland and then marshy areas. It passes the Bellevue river and the Petite rivière au Beurre. Finally, it reaches its mouth.
Where the River Ends
The Pot au Beurre river empties into the Yamaska River. This happens on the west side of the Yamaska, near the northern tip of Île Saint-Jean. It's about 0.4 kilometers upstream from Rouche Island on the Yamaska River.
The River's Basin
The area that the Pot au Beurre river drains, called its watershed, is about 210 square kilometers. This area has many small channels and ditches. This is because the soil is not very absorbent, and the land is used a lot for farming. Farmers need to drain the land, so many of the smaller streams that flow into the river are actually straight agricultural ditches. In total, the river's basin includes about 607 kilometers of these waterways.
Why is it Called "Pot au Beurre"?
The name "Pot au Beurre" is a bit of a mystery! In the past, especially during summer, people used to keep their butter cool. They would put it in a special container, a "butter pot," and then lower it into cool wells or into the deeper, colder parts of this river.
A mapmaker named Joseph Bouchette officially called it "Rivière Pot au Beurre" in his book about Lower Canada in 1815.
Other "Pot au Beurre" Rivers
Did you know there's another river in Quebec with the same name? This other "Pot au Beurre" river is on the Île d'Orléans. It flows between the towns of Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans and Sainte-Famille. This name was first recorded in 1722. Sometimes, it's also called "Première rivière Pot au Beurre" or "Ruisseau du Dragage."
The name "Rivière Pot-au-Beurre" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like the official naming board for places in Quebec.
