Rivière du Milieu (Lanaudière) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rivière du Milieu |
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|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Lanaudière |
| Regional County Municipality | Matawinie Regional County Municipality |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lake Hastel Baie-de-la-Bouteille 473 m (1,552 ft) 47°05′15″N 74°16′13″W / 47.08750°N 74.27028°W |
| River mouth | Taureau Reservoir Baie-de-la-Bouteille 351 m (1,152 ft) 46°46′47″N 73°55′42″W / 46.77972°N 73.92833°W |
| Length | 62.5 km (38.8 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Taureau Reservoir, Matawin River, Saint-Maurice River, Saint Lawrence River |
| Tributaries |
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The Rivière du Milieu (which means "River of the Middle" in English) is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows through a wild, unorganized area called Baie-de-la-Bouteille. This area is part of the Matawinie Regional County Municipality in the Lanaudière region.
The river flows entirely through thick forests. For a long time, people in this area mostly worked in forestry, cutting down trees. But in the 1900s, more people started visiting for fun activities like tourism.
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River's Journey
The Rivière du Milieu starts its journey at Lake Hastel. This lake is in the Baie-de-la-Bouteille area. It sits high up, about 474 m (1,555 ft) above sea level. Mountains surround Lake Hastel, with some peaks reaching over 600 m (2,000 ft). Many smaller mountain lakes also drain into Lake Hastel.
Flowing from Lake Hastel
From Lake Hastel, the river flows south. It passes through Corner Lake, which is also quite high up. This lake collects water from several other smaller lakes nearby.
After Corner Lake, the river continues south. It winds through a few small lakes, including a marshy one called Lac de la Forêt. It then crosses Lac du Bocage, which gets water from more lakes to the north.
The river then twists and turns southwest. It picks up water from lakes like Horseshoe Lake and Lac du Button. It also flows past Lac de la Hutte and then reaches Lac Chantier. The river crosses the entire length of Lac Chantier.
Journey from Lac Chantier
After leaving Lac Chantier, the river flows southeast. It goes through Lake des Fourches and a small lake called Merle. It then receives water from Bug Lake, which comes from the northeast.
Further downstream, the river meets Saint-Cyr Stream and then Spring Creek. It continues southeast, picking up water from Boullé Stream and Guide Brook.
The river then reaches Lake Charland. It flows for a long distance through this lake, which has many peninsulas sticking out into the water.
Final Stretch to Taureau Reservoir
From Lake Charland, the river continues southeast. It passes under a forest road bridge. It then receives water from Lake Arsène, which flows in from the east.
The river then goes through an area with "Rapides Perrault" (Perrault Rapids). It also meets Perrault Brook. The Coteaux Stream joins the river from the south.
Next, the river flows through the "Rapides du Brochet" (Pike Rapids). A major tributary, the Laviolette River, joins it from the north. The Laviolette River drains Laviolette Lake.
Finally, the Rivière du Milieu flows into the Middle Bay of the large Taureau Reservoir. The entire river flows through the wild, unorganized territory of Baie-de-la-Bouteille. Along its path, it passes through rapids like Blueberry, Perrault, and Brochet. A forest road, called the Manouane road, follows the river for much of its length.
River's Name
The name "Rivière du Milieu" means "River of the Middle." It is named after the Baie du Milieu (Middle Bay) in the Taureau Reservoir, where the river ends. The name was officially recorded on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a government group that names places in Quebec.
