Rivière des Pins (Blanc Lake) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rivière des Pins |
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|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Mauricie and Capitale-Nationale |
| Regional County Municipality | Mékinac and Portneuf Regional County Municipality |
| Municipalities | Notre-Dame-des-Anges and Saint-Ubalde |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lac de la Galette Notre-Dame-des-Anges, MRC Mékinac 207 m (679 ft) 46°54′30″N 72°13′58″W / 46.90824°N 72.23273°W |
| River mouth | Blanc Lake Saint-Ubalde 142 m (466 ft) 46°49′43″N 72°16′10″W / 46.82861°N 72.26944°W |
| Length | 11 km (6.8 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Rivière des Pins is a freshwater stream located in Quebec, Canada. This river flows through two main areas:
- Notre-Dame-des-Anges in the Mékinac Regional County Municipality, which is part of the Mauricie region.
- Saint-Ubalde in the Portneuf Regional County Municipality, which is part of the Capitale-Nationale region.
The river mainly flows through areas with farms and forests. These are the main ways people make a living in this small valley. Roads like Chemin du Lac-Blanc and Verrette Road help people get around the lower part of the valley. In the upper part, you can use roads around Lac des Pins and Chemin du Lac-de-la-Galette.
The river's surface usually freezes from early December to late March. However, it's safest to be on the ice from late December to early March. The amount of water in the river changes with the seasons and how much it rains. The biggest flood usually happens in March or April.
Contents
Journey of the Rivière des Pins
Where the River Starts
The Rivière des Pins begins at a lake called Lac de la Galette. This lake is about 0.8 kilometres (0.50 mi) long and shaped like a "T". It sits at an altitude of 207 metres (679 ft). Lac de la Galette also gets water from another lake called Lac à l'Équerre, which is at 212 metres (696 ft) altitude. Most of Lac de la Galette is surrounded by forests, and there are a few cabins on its western side.
The River's Path
From Lac de la Galette, the Rivière des Pins flows for about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) through a forest area. It drops about 65 metres (213 ft) in height along its journey. Here's how it flows:
- It travels 3.4 kilometres (2.1 mi) south in a straight line. Along this part, it goes through a marshy area with a small lake. It also collects water from a stream coming from the west and from Lac du Canard.
- The river then crosses Lac des Pins for about 0.7 kilometres (0.43 mi). This lake is 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) long and is at an altitude of 184 metres (604 ft). Lac des Pins is a popular spot for vacations, with about 35 cottages built around it.
- After Lac des Pins, the river continues south for 4.2 kilometres (2.6 mi). It crosses the Lac-du-Castor road and Verrette road. It also picks up water from Lac à Saint-Pierre.
- Finally, it flows south for 3.4 kilometres (2.1 mi). It collects water from several small lakes before reaching the northern shore of Blanc Lake.
Flowing to the Saint Lawrence River
Once the Rivière des Pins reaches Blanc Lake, its water continues to flow:
- It crosses Blanc Lake for 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) to the south.
- Then, it follows the Blanche River for 29.25 kilometres (18.18 mi) to the south.
- Next, it joins the Noire River for 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) southwards.
- Finally, it flows along the Sainte-Anne River for 11.5 kilometres (7.1 mi) to the south. This journey ends when it reaches the northwest shore of the mighty Saint-Laurent river.
What's in a Name?
The name "Rivière des Pins" means "River of Pines" in French. This name was officially recognized on May 7, 1981, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a special group that names places in Quebec.
