Rivière de la Somme facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rivière de la Somme |
|
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Capitale-Nationale |
| Regional County Municipality | La Jacques-Cartier Regional County Municipality |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Noir Lake Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier 479 units? 46°59′36″N 71°36′52″W / 46.9934625°N 71.6144432°W |
| River mouth | Rivière aux Pins Shannon 167 m 46°57′01″N 71°35′43″W / 46.95028°N 71.59528°W |
| Length | 32.7 km (20.3 mi) |
The Rivière de la Somme is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows through the towns of Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier and Shannon. These towns are part of the La Jacques-Cartier Regional County Municipality. This area is in the Capitale-Nationale region of Quebec.
This river flows through a forest. It is also part of the Duchesnay tourist resort area. For a long time, cutting down trees (forestry) was the main activity here. This was especially true in the 1700s and 1800s. Later, fun activities like tourism became popular.
The river usually freezes from November to April. But it's safest to walk on the ice from mid-December to the end of March. The amount of water in the river changes with the seasons. It also depends on how much rain or snow falls.
Where the Somme River Starts and Flows
The Somme River begins at Lac Noir, which means "Black Lake". This lake is about 166 meters wide. It sits high up, at 479 meters above sea level. Lac Noir is in the town of Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier.
From Lac Noir, the water flows south for 312 meters. It then reaches Lake Martin. Lake Martin is about 400 meters long. It has a marshy area around its west and north sides.
The water then flows out of Lake Martin for 0.65 kilometers. It goes south to Lake Grande Ligne. This lake is 417 meters long. The river flows through it for 188 meters.
The River's Journey Through Swamps and Towns
After Lake Grande Ligne, the river flows for 1.1 kilometers through a swampy area. First, it goes west for 0.65 kilometers. Then it turns southwest. Here, it meets water from Lake Biferno, which is in Saint-Raymond-de-Portneuf.
Next, the river flows south for 4.2 kilometers through Shannon. It then turns east to meet a stream coming from Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier. The river continues south for 1.9 kilometers in Shannon. It crosses another marshy area. Here, it collects water from several small lakes. These lakes include "à la voile", "étang long", Try, "on the Island", and Ravenna.
Finally, the river flows south for another 0.73 kilometers. It then reaches its end, or mouth. The river joins the Rivière aux Pins at an altitude of 167 meters. This meeting point is 1.6 kilometers north of Mont Sorrel. The Rivière aux Pins then flows into Lac Saint-Joseph.
Why the River is Called "Somme"
The name "Rivière de la Somme" comes from a famous river in France. That French river is also called the Somme. It flows through the northwest part of France. This French river gives its name to a region in France called Somme.
The name of the Quebec river is also connected to Mont Sorrel. This mountain is named after a place near Ypres, in Belgium. A very important battle happened there during the First World War. This battle took place from June 2 to June 14, 1916.
The name "Rivière de la Somme" was officially recognized on January 22, 1974. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is a group that names places in Quebec.
