Rivière du Milieu (Launière River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rivière du Milieu |
|
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Capitale-Nationale |
| Regional County Municipality | La Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality |
| Unorganized territory | Lac-Jacques-Cartier |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Warbonne Lake Lac-Jacques-Cartier 857 m (2,812 ft) 47°36′37″N 71°19′02″W / 47.61015°N 71.31736°W |
| River mouth | Launière River Lac-Jacques-Cartier 630 m (2,070 ft) 47°29′03″N 71°24′36″W / 47.48417°N 71.41°W |
| Length | 24.0 km (14.9 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Rivière du Milieu (which means "Middle River") is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows through a wild area called Lac-Jacques-Cartier, which is part of the La Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality. This region is known as Capitale-Nationale.
This river is special because it runs right through the middle of the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve. This reserve is a huge protected area. You can get close to the river by using Route 175, also known as Antonio-Talbot Road. There are also smaller forest roads, like R0320, that help people reach different parts of the area. These roads are used for logging and for fun activities like hiking or fishing.
The main activities here are forestry (cutting down trees for wood) and recreational tourism (people visiting for fun).
During winter, the river usually freezes over. This happens from late November until early April. It's generally safe to walk or play on the ice from mid-December to the end of March.
Where is the Rivière du Milieu?
The Rivière du Milieu is surrounded by other rivers and lakes. Here are some of its neighbors:
- To the north: The Launière River and Honorine Lake.
- To the east: The Jacques-Cartier River and Jacques-Cartier Lake.
- To the south: The Jacques-Cartier River, Launière River, and Rocheuse River.
- To the west: The Launière River, Champlain Lake, and Cavée River.
The River's Journey: From Source to Mouth
The Rivière du Milieu starts at a place called Warbonne Lake. This lake is about 1.3 kilometres (0.81 mi) long and sits high up in the mountains, at an altitude of 857 metres (2,812 ft). The mountains around it are very tall, reaching over 1,000 metres (3,300 ft)!
Warbonne Lake has two main exits for its water:
- South exit: Water flows for about 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) from a small lake with a dam. This water then joins the main part of the Rivière du Milieu.
- North exit: Water flows for about 4.7 kilometres (2.9 mi) from this side. It picks up water from other streams and lakes, like Corridor Lake, before joining the flow from the south exit.
Once these two streams from Warbonne Lake meet, the Rivière du Milieu truly begins its journey. It flows for about 19.3 kilometres (12.0 mi), dropping about 227 metres (745 ft) in height along the way.
The river's path includes:
- Flowing south, picking up water from lakes like Kay and Cayer.
- Winding south through a deep valley, even crossing the western end of a lake called Lac Maigre. There's a dam at the end of Lac Maigre.
- Continuing south, collecting water from lakes like Loyer and Bout.
- Turning southeast, getting water from Lac Roy and Lac Reg.
- Finally, flowing southwest through another deep valley until it reaches its mouth.
The Rivière du Milieu eventually flows into the Launière River. From there, the water travels about 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) more. Then, it joins the much larger Jacques-Cartier River. The water from the Jacques-Cartier River eventually reaches the mighty Saint Lawrence River near Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier.
What's in a Name?
The name "Rivière du Milieu" means "Middle River" in French. This name was officially given to the river on June 6, 1973. The Commission de toponymie du Québec is the group in Quebec that gives official names to places and geographical features.
