Rivière des Chenaux facts for kids

The Rivière des Chenaux (which means "Channel River" in English) is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Lombrette River, which then joins the Saint Lawrence River. This river is located in the Capitale-Nationale region.

The Rivière des Chenaux passes through two main areas:

• Charlevoix Regional County Municipality: in the town of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François.
• La Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality: in the town of Saint-Tite-des-Caps.

The main road in this area is Quebec Route 138. It usually follows the Saint Lawrence River. However, in this part of Charlevoix, it moves away from the river. Another road, Quebec Route 360, serves the lower part of the valley. The main activity here is forestry, which means cutting down trees for wood. Tourism is also important.

The river's surface usually freezes from early December to late March. It is generally safe to walk on the ice from mid-December to mid-March. The amount of water in the river changes with the seasons and how much rain or snow falls. The biggest flow of water, called the spring flood, happens in March or April.

Where the Chenaux River Starts

The Chenaux River begins in Petite-Rivière-Saint-François. It starts at the end of a lake called Lac Fortin. This lake is about 0.9 kilometres (0.56 mi) long and sits at an altitude of 657 metres (2,156 ft) (about 2,156 feet).

Lac Fortin is a small lake surrounded by mountains. It is located:

• About 9.5 kilometres (5.9 mi) east of the Saint Lawrence River.
• About 9.5 kilometres (5.9 mi) southwest of the village of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François.
• About 18.5 kilometres (11.5 mi) north of the village of Saint-Tite-des-Caps.
• About 67 kilometres (42 mi) northeast of downtown Quebec City.

The River's Journey

From Lac Fortin, the Rivière des Chenaux flows downhill for 20.2 kilometres (12.6 mi) (about 12.5 miles). It drops about 284 metres (932 ft) (932 feet) in height. The river mainly flows through forests, staying close to the edge of the Laurentian plateau.

Here's how the river flows:

• It goes 0.5 kilometres (0.31 mi) south, meeting a small lake's outlet.
• It then flows 2.8 kilometres (1.7 mi) southeast, making many small turns.
• Next, it goes 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) west, then south, to another small lake's outlet.
• It continues 6.8 kilometres (4.2 mi) south, making a bend to the west. It crosses Lac des Chenaux, which is 0.7 kilometres (0.43 mi) long and 505 metres (1,657 ft) high.
• It flows 2.6 kilometres (1.6 mi) south, then turns east to meet a stream.
• It travels 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) south through the forest, winding in places.
• Finally, it flows 3.1 kilometres (1.9 mi) east, then southeast. It passes through farming and forest areas and crosses Quebec Route 360 before reaching its end.

Where the River Ends

The Chenaux River flows into the west bank of the Lombrette River. This meeting point is in Saint-Tite-des-Caps, near an area called Domaine-Lombrette. It is located between Route 360 and Quebec Route 138.

This spot is:

• About 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi) east of the Saint Lawrence River.
• About 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) north of the village of Saint-Tite-des-Caps.
• About 19.6 kilometres (12.2 mi) southwest of the village of Petite-Rivière-Saint-François.
• About 53.9 kilometres (33.5 mi) northeast of downtown Quebec City.

After the Chenaux River joins the Lombrette River, the water flows 9.4 kilometres (5.8 mi) south along the Lombrette. Then, it travels about 14.0 kilometres (8.7 mi) south along the Sainte-Anne River. This journey ends when the water reaches the northwest shore of the Saint Lawrence River.

River Name History

The name "rivière des Chenaux" was officially recognized 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.