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Rivière du Moulin (Deschambault-Grondines) facts for kids

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Rivière du Moulin
Country Canada
Province Quebec
Region Capitale-Nationale
Regional County Municipality Portneuf Regional County Municipality
Municipality Deschambault-Grondines
Physical characteristics
Main source Confluence of two streams
Portneuf
38 units?
46°35′12″N 72°03′25″W / 46.58667°N 72.05707°W / 46.58667; -72.05707
River mouth Saint Lawrence River
Deschambault-Grondines
5 m
46°37′28″N 72°04′37″W / 46.624422°N 72.07694°W / 46.624422; -72.07694
Length 13.5 km (8.4 mi)
Basin features
Tributaries
  • Left:
    (Upward from the mouth) Unidentified stream
  • Right:
    (Upward from the mouth) Rivière des Étangs, branche de la Savane Claire.

The Rivière du Moulin is a small river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the famous Saint Lawrence River. This river is located in the area of Deschambault-Grondines, which is part of the Portneuf Regional County Municipality. This whole region is in the Capitale-Nationale area of Quebec.

The main roads that follow the Moulin River valley are Route 138 and Route 363. Route 138 runs along the Saint Lawrence River, and Route 363 goes across the land.

The most important job in this area is farming. Forestry, which is about trees and wood, is the second most important job.

The Moulin River usually freezes over from early December to late March. It's safest to walk or play 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. The river gets very full in spring, usually in March or April, when the snow melts.

Where is the Moulin River Located?

The Rivière du Moulin is on the north side of the Saint Lawrence River. It flows between the cities of Trois-Rivières and Quebec. Specifically, it's between two other rivers: the Sainte-Anne River to the west and the Portneuf River to the east.

The River's Beginning

The Moulin River starts near the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks. This starting point is about 4.0 kilometers (2.5 miles) west of the Saint Lawrence River. It's also about 5.9 kilometers (3.7 miles) south of the village of Saint-Marc-des-Carrières.

From its source, the river flows for about 13.5 kilometers (8.4 miles). During its journey, the river drops about 33 meters (108 feet) in height.

How the River Flows

  • For the first 5.1 kilometers (3.2 miles), the river flows west. It crosses the Canadian Pacific railway tracks. Then, it turns south and crosses the railway again.
  • For the next 8.4 kilometers (5.2 miles), it flows southwest through farming areas. It crosses Autoroute 40 and then Route 138 in the village of Grondines-Ouest. This is where it reaches its end.

Where the River Ends

The Moulin River joins the Saint Lawrence River about 4.0 kilometers (2.5 miles) southeast of the railway. This spot is 9.3 kilometers (5.8 miles) southeast of the village of Saint-Casimir. It's also 10.3 kilometers (6.4 miles) northeast of where the Sainte-Anne River meets the Saint Lawrence River.

What Does "Moulin" Mean?

The name "Rivière du Moulin" means "Mill River" in French. In 1815, a geographer named Joseph Bouchette wrote about the area. He mentioned a small river in the Grondines area that flowed into the Saint Lawrence River.

This small river was used to power a grain mill and a sawmill. Even though it didn't have a name back then, it likely got its current name from these mills. The mills used the river's power to grind grain and cut wood.

The name "Rivière du Moulin" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is a group that names places in Quebec.

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