Rivière à la Croix (Saguenay River tributary) facts for kids

The Rivière à la Croix is a small river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the famous Saguenay River. This river is located in the area of Saint-Félix-d'Otis. This area is part of the Fjord-du-Saguenay region.

The land around the Rivière à la Croix is used for different things. People use the "Chemin de l'Anse aux érables" and "chemin du lac à la Croix" roads to get around. These roads help with logging, farming, and fun outdoor activities.

Logging is the most important business here. Tourism, like hiking or fishing, comes in second. You can also find some homes scattered in small clearings along the valley.

During winter, the Rivière à la Croix usually freezes over. This happens from early December to late March. It's generally safe to walk or play on the ice from mid-December to mid-March.

Where the River Flows

The Rivière à la Croix is surrounded by other important water bodies. Knowing these helps us understand its journey.

• North: Lac au Sable and the big Saguenay River.
• East: The Saguenay River, Éternité River, and Saint-Jean River.
• South: Brébeuf Lake, Éternité Lake, and Saint-Jean River.
• West: Otis Lake, the Saguenay River, Baie des Ha! Ha!, and Ha! Ha! River.

The River's Beginning

The Rivière à la Croix starts at Lac à la Croix. This lake is about 4.3 kilometers (2.7 miles) long. It's about 0.7 kilometers (0.4 miles) wide at its widest point. The lake sits high up, at 202 meters (663 feet) above sea level, surrounded by mountains.

Several small mountain streams feed into Lac à la Croix. These include water from Lake Pitre, Lake Rond, Lac des Cœurs, Lac de la Sucrerie, Lac Mélasse, and Lakes Sergerie and Wellie.

The source of the river is located:

• 5.0 km (3.1 mi) south of the Saguenay River.
• 3.5 km (2.2 mi) northeast of Otis Lake.
• 7.9 km (4.9 mi) northwest of Éternity Lake.

The River's Journey

From Lac à la Croix, the river flows for about 8.6 kilometers (5.3 miles). It drops 198 meters (650 feet) in height along its way.

First, it flows about 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) west through a deep valley. Along this part, it collects water from Lake Jules, Lake Eddy, Lake Hay, and Sable Lake.

Then, it continues for another 6.1 kilometers (3.8 miles) to the west. It still flows through a deep valley, making some interesting twists and turns.

Where the River Ends

The Rivière à la Croix eventually flows into the south bank of the Saguenay River. This meeting point is called "Anse à la Croix."

This spot is located:

• 3.1 km (1.9 mi) southeast of the north shore of the Saguenay River.
• 3.6 km (2.2 mi) north of Otis Lake.
• 31.4 km (19.5 mi) east of downtown Saguenay.

From where the Rivière à la Croix joins it, the Saguenay River continues its journey. It flows east for about 79.7 kilometers (49.5 miles) to Tadoussac. There, it joins the large Saint Lawrence estuary.

River's Name History

The name "Rivière à la Croix" has been used for a long time. It appeared on a regional map from 1943. It was also on a draft map from 1959.

The name "Rivière à la Croix" 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.

More to Explore

Here are some other interesting places and topics related to the Rivière à la Croix:

• Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality
• L'Anse-Saint-Jean, a nearby town
• Lac à la Croix, where the river starts
• Saint-Jean River
• Saguenay River
• List of rivers of Quebec