Rivière des Hurons (Saint-Charles Lake) facts for kids

The Rivière des Hurons (which means Hurons's River in English) is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows through the municipality of Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury, just north of Quebec City. This river is very important because it's the main source of water for Lake Saint-Charles, which provides drinking water to Quebec City.

The area around the Hurons River is served by several roads. These include Grande-Ligne road, Quebec Route 175, Saint-Edmond road, and Talbot boulevard.

During winter, the river usually freezes from early December to late 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. It gets higher during spring, usually in March or April, due to melting snow and rain.

River's Journey and Features

The Hurons River starts in the Laurentian Mountains, in the northeast part of Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury. It begins a few kilometers northeast of Saint-Adolphe. The river flows for about 29.5 kilometres (18.3 mi) and ends in the Marais-du-Nord Natural Reserve. The area of land that drains into the river, called its watershed, is about 135 square kilometres (52 sq mi). This watershed includes smaller rivers like the Hibou River and Durand stream. The Hurons River is part of the larger Saint-Charles River system.

From where it starts, the Hurons River drops about 507 metres (1,663 ft) in elevation. Here's how its journey unfolds:

• It flows 1.4 kilometres (0.87 mi) west, going down the mountain.
• Then, it turns south for 2.6 kilometres (1.6 mi), flowing through a wide valley and a small lake.
• It continues southwest for 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) through a deep valley.
• Next, it flows south for 2.0 kilometres (1.2 mi), passing east of Saint-Adolphe village, until it meets the Turgeon River.
• It travels south for 5.5 kilometres (3.4 mi), picking up water from Lac à la Loutre. It also crosses Quebec Route 175 before meeting the Noire River.
• The river then flows south for 8.8 kilometres (5.5 mi), passing between Mont Hibou and Mont Wright. It goes through the village of Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury and meets the Hibou River.
• It continues south for 1.1 kilometres (0.68 mi) to Durand stream.
• Finally, it winds south for 5.7 kilometres (3.5 mi) through a flat area. It crosses the Marais-du-Nord nature reserve before reaching the marshy northern part of Lake Saint-Charles.

After joining Lake Saint-Charles, the water flows through the lake for 5.0 kilometres (3.1 mi) southeast. Then, it continues for 33.8 kilometres (21.0 mi) as the Saint-Charles River, eventually flowing into the Saint Lawrence River.

How the Land is Used

Most of the land around the Hurons River is covered by forests. It's a very natural area with beautiful scenery. Because of the way the land is shaped, the riverbanks can wear away easily in some spots. People use this area for a few things. There are some small towns and lots of places for fun activities. You can find a golf club and a ski resort, the Stoneham Mountain Resort, here.

The Name: Rivière des Hurons

The name "Rivière des Hurons" reminds us of the Huron (Wendat) people. They settled north of Quebec City a long time ago. In 1651, the Hurons moved to the Quebec region after facing wars, hunger, and sickness. They were helped by the Jesuits, who were missionaries.

The Hurons lived in several places, like Sillery and Île d'Orléans. Eventually, they settled in La Jeune-Lorette, which is now called Wendake. They used to travel up the Saint-Charles River to Lake Saint-Charles, which they still call Lake Huron today. This name was even written in a report in 1829.

Old maps and books also used the name "Huron River." For example, a map from 1795 called it "Winter Huron." The Hurons used canoes on the river and made portages (carrying their canoes) between small lakes to reach hunting and fishing grounds. They had to work with the Innu and Algonquins, who already lived in the area.

In the 1600s, a path used by Jesuits from Quebec to Lac Saint-Jean followed this river. Later, this path became important for the first settlers in the Stoneham area. It was the main way to travel until Quebec Route 175 was built in 1953. Route 175 runs next to the Hurons River for about 25 kilometres (16 mi).

The official name "Rivière des Hurons" was made formal on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec (Quebec's Place Names Commission).