Rivière du Sault (Charlevoix) facts for kids

The Rivière du Sault (which means Sault River in English) is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Ruisseau de la Martine, which then flows into the mighty Saint Lawrence River.

This river runs through the town of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François. This area is part of the Charlevoix Regional County Municipality in the Capitale-Nationale region.

A main road, Quebec Route 138, follows the upper part of the river valley. The main street of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François also goes down the mountain near the river. Many fun activities happen along the river, especially for people on vacation. The mountains around the river are also popular for outdoor sports. A big ski resort called "Massif de Charlevoix" is very close to the river's upper part. Its ski slopes face the river!

The lower part of the Sault River usually freezes from early December to late March. It's generally safe to walk on the ice from mid-December to mid-March. The upper part of the river stays frozen for about an extra week. The river's water level changes with the seasons and how much it rains. The biggest flood usually happens in March or April.

Where Does the Sault River Start and End?

The Sault River begins in a small lake high up in the mountains. This lake is about 1.4 kilometers long and sits at an elevation of 684 meters. It's located in the town of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François.

The river's source is found:

• About 0.6 kilometers east of Quebec Route 138. This road is usually 5 to 6 kilometers away from the Saint Lawrence River in this area.
• About 1.7 kilometers west of the top of Mountain in Liguori, which is 820 meters high.
• About 5.1 kilometers southwest of the center of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François village.
• About 18.2 kilometers south of downtown Baie-Saint-Paul.
• About 20.7 kilometers north of downtown Saint-Tite-des-Caps.

From its start, the Sault River flows for 12.0 kilometers. It drops a total of 560 meters from its source to its mouth.

The River's Journey

The river's path can be split into two main parts:

• For the first 7.4 kilometers, it flows north through a valley that gets deeper and deeper. It generally follows Quebec Route 138 on its east side. This part ends where another stream joins the river.
• For the next 4.6 kilometers, it turns east. It makes a curve to the north to go around a mountain. In this section, the river drops 212 meters in a deep valley. It also picks up water from "Le Gros Ruisseau" before reaching its end.

The Sault River ends by flowing into the Ruisseau de la Martine. This happens on the northwest side of the Saint Lawrence River.

This meeting point is located:

• About 1.6 kilometers west of the Saint Lawrence River's shore.
• About 4.5 kilometers north of the village center of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François.
• About 3.7 kilometers southeast of Quebec Route 138.
• About 1.7 kilometers northwest of the small area called "Maillard."

From where the Sault River joins the Ruisseau de la Martine, the water then flows about 2.3 kilometers southeast. It crosses the main street of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François and a railway line before finally reaching the northwest shore of the Saint Lawrence River.

What's in a Name? The History of "Sault"

The name "Rivière du Sault" was used for this river by a mapmaker named Joseph Bouchette back in 1815 and 1831. He drew it on his maps.

Later, people sometimes called it "Ruisseau du Sot." This was just a different way of spelling "Sault" back then. The word "sault" means a "slope break" or a "waterfall" in French. This name likely refers to a part of the river where the land drops more steeply.

The official name, "rivière du Sault," was made formal on November 13, 2006. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is the group in charge of place names in Quebec.