Rivière aux Pins (Boucherville) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rivière aux Pins |
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|---|---|
| Countries | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Administrative region | Montérégie |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Urban stream Boucherville 10 m (33 ft) 45°14′53″N 73°26′05″W / 45.248075°N 73.434861°W |
| River mouth | Saint Lawrence River Boucherville 7 m (23 ft) 45°38′52″N 73°26′45″W / 45.64778°N 73.44583°W |
| Length | 5.7 km (3.5 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Rivière aux Pins (which means Pine River in English) is a small river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the big Saint Lawrence River. This river is located in the city of Boucherville, which is in the Montérégie region of Quebec.
The middle part of the river acts like a border. It separates the farming areas from the city parts of Boucherville.
During winter, the river usually freezes over from mid-December until the end of March. It's generally safe to walk on the ice from late December to early March. The amount of water in the river changes with the seasons and how much rain or snow falls.
Contents
Where the Rivière aux Pins Flows
The Rivière aux Pins is surrounded by other water bodies. Knowing these helps us understand its path.
Nearby Rivers and Streams
Here are the main rivers and streams close to the Rivière aux Pins:
- On the north side: The Saint-Charles River (Varennes) and Pays Brûlé stream.
- On the east side: La Grande Décharge and Narbonne stream.
- On the south side: The Sabrevois River.
- On the west side: The mighty Saint Lawrence River.
The River's Journey
The Rivière aux Pins starts in the city of Boucherville. It begins near a street called rue de la Rivière-aux-Pins. This street is next to the Parc de la Rivière-aux-Pins.
The river flows for about 5.7 kilometers (about 3.5 miles). It drops about 3 meters (10 feet) in height along its path.
First Part of the River
For about 4.2 kilometers (2.6 miles), the river flows north through a city area. It runs between a railroad track on its west side and Quebec Route 132 on its east side. Along this part, it collects water from a stream called Ruisseau des Frênes, which joins from the southeast.
Second Part of the River
After crossing the railroad, the river flows for another 1.5 kilometers (about 0.9 miles). This part goes northwest through farmland. It also crosses a marsh area in Parc de la Frayère. This is where the river reaches its end.
Where the River Ends
The Rivière aux Pins empties into the southeast bank of the Saint Lawrence River. This spot is called "La Frayère." It is across from the southern part of the Varennes islands.
Here are some distances from its mouth:
- It is about 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) east of the shore of Pointe-aux-Trembles.
- It is about 3.1 kilometers (1.9 miles) upstream from where the Saint-Charles River (Varennes) enters the Saint Lawrence.
- It is about 8.1 kilometers (5 miles) north of the Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine Bridge–Tunnel.
The Name of the River
The name "Rivière aux Pins" means "Pine River." This name describes the area because there used to be many red and white pine trees along its banks. People started using this name for the river in the late 1600s.
The river was also once called "Rivière De Muy." This was the name of a special land area given out in 1695, which was located near the river's mouth.
The official name "Rivière aux Pins" was made formal on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is the group in Quebec that names places.
