Rivière du Moulin (Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rivière du Moulin |
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|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Capitale-Nationale |
| MRC | L'Île-d'Orléans Regional County Municipality |
| Municipality | Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Agricultural area Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans 110 m (360 ft) 46°54′55″N 71°01′40″W / 46.91528°N 71.02778°W |
| River mouth | Chenal de l'Île d'Orléans (Saint Lawrence River) Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans 4 m (13 ft) 46°53′54″N 71°05′22″W / 46.89833°N 71.08944°W |
| Length | 6.4 km (4.0 mi) |
The Rivière du Moulin (which means "Mill River" in French) is a small river in Quebec, Canada. It flows through the area of Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans. This river is a branch of the Chenal de l'Île d'Orléans, which then connects to the big Saint Lawrence River.
The river is located on Île d'Orléans, a large island near Quebec City. The main road, Chemin Royal (also known as Quebec Route 368), runs along the lower part of this river's valley. Most of the land around the river is used for farming.
During winter, the Rivière du Moulin usually freezes over from early December to late March. However, some parts with faster water might not freeze completely. It's usually 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 it rains or snows. A big increase in water, called a spring flood, happens in March or April.
Where the River Flows
The Rivière du Moulin starts in a farming area in Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans. It begins south of a marshy area. This marsh also feeds other nearby streams. The river's starting point is about 5.9 kilometers (3.7 miles) west of the mouth of the Maheu River. It is also 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles) east of the Chenal de l'Île d'Orléans.
From its start, the Moulin river flows for about 6.4 kilometers (4 miles). It drops about 106 meters (348 feet) in height along its path.
- For the first 3.6 kilometers (2.2 miles), it flows southwest through farmland.
- Then, for the next 2.8 kilometers (1.7 miles), it turns southwest again. It goes past the north-west side of the village of Saint-Pierre. It makes a big curve to head west before reaching its end.
The Rivière du Moulin empties into the south side of the Chenal de l'Île d'Orléans. This happens right near the village of Saint-Pierre-de-l'Île-d'Orléans. At this spot, the Chenal de l'Île d'Orléans is about 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles) wide. The river's mouth is directly across from the center of the village of L'Ange-Gardien.
Why It's Called "Mill River"
The name "Rivière du Moulin" means "Mill River." This name comes from a mill that was built along the river way back in the 1600s. This mill was probably located closer to the river's end. There are actually three rivers on Île d'Orléans that are named because of old mills built on them.
The name "Rivière du Moulin" was officially recognized on August 8, 1977. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is the group in charge of place names in Quebec.
