Rivière du Pilet facts for kids

The Rivière du Pilet is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Chigoubiche River. The river is located in an area called Lac-Ashuapmushuan, which is a territory without its own local government. This area is part of the Le Domaine-du-Roy Regional County Municipality and the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region.

The main road in the Pilet river valley is R0211. This road helps people get around the area. It connects to Route 167 further north.

The most important activity in this valley is forestry, which means harvesting trees. Another important activity is tourism, especially because of the Ashuapmushuan Wildlife Reserve. This reserve is a special protected area for animals and nature.

River's Journey

The Pilet river starts from a lake called Odilon. This lake is about 0.9 km (0.56 mi) long and sits high up at 542 m (1,778 ft) above sea level.

Lake Odilon is in a mountainous area of Lac-Ashuapmushuan. It is located:

• 3.0 km (1.9 mi) northeast of the Trenche River.
• 23.3 km (14.5 mi) southeast of where the Pilet river ends.
• 22.3 km (13.9 mi) south of the railway line.
• 30.3 km (18.8 mi) southwest of the Ashuapmushuan River.

From its start, the Rivière du Pilet flows for about 24.1 km (15.0 mi). It drops 212 m (696 ft) in height along its path. The entire river flows through a forest area.

Here's how the river flows:

• It goes 3.5 km (2.2 mi) north, passing through a marshy area. Then it crosses Lac du Pilet, which is 2.5 km (1.6 mi) long and 537 m (1,762 ft) high.
• Next, it flows 6.7 km (4.2 mi) northeast, going through Lake Jouvin (536 m (1,759 ft) high) and then all the way through Lac Couleuvre (531 m (1,742 ft) high). After that, it turns northwest and enters a deep valley. Along this part, it collects water from Lake de la Tente and Lake Fougaron.
• It continues 11.6 km (7.2 mi) northwest, collecting water from Lake Loffre, Lake Minet, and the Congénères lakes. It also gets water from the Noël and Rustan lakes.
• Finally, it flows 2.3 km (1.4 mi) northwest in a fairly straight line. It crosses Route 167 near its end.

Where the River Ends

The Pilet river joins the Chigoubiche River on its south bank. This meeting point is upstream from some rapids.

This spot is located:

• 6.5 km (4.0 mi) east of Chigoubiche Lake.
• 19.9 km (12.4 mi) southwest of where the Chigoubiche River ends.
• 76.8 km (47.7 mi) northwest of the town of Saint-Félicien.

From where the Pilet river meets the Chigoubiche River, the water travels a long way. It flows down the Chigoubiche river for 45.4 km (28.2 mi). Then it goes along the Ashuapmushuan river for 59.8 km (37.2 mi). After that, it crosses Lac Saint-Jean for its full length, which is 41.1 km (25.5 mi). Finally, the water enters the Saguenay River through la Petite Décharge and flows 172.3 km (107.1 mi) east to Tadoussac. At Tadoussac, the Saguenay River meets the estuary of Saint Lawrence, which is where the Saint Lawrence River connects to the ocean.

What's in a Name?

The name "Pilet" comes from a type of duck that lives in cold regions. It is also a family name. In America, some people with this last name are known as "Pilet dit Jolicoeur." These families have even formed an association.

The name "rivière du Pilet" became official on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a special group that names places in Quebec.