Rouge River (Ouareau River) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rouge River |
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|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Lanaudière |
| Regional County Municipality | Matawinie Regional County Municipality, Montcalm Regional County Municipality, Joliette Regional County Municipality |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Couture lake Chertsey 284 m 46°10′08″N 73°46′59″W / 46.169017°N 73.782952°W |
| River mouth | Ouareau River Crabtree 31 m 45°58′35″N 73°28′32″W / 45.976291°N 73.475694°W |
| Length | 56.5 km (35.1 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Ouareau River, L'Assomption River, Saint Lawrence River |
| Tributaries |
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The Rouge River (which means 'Red River' in French) is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Ouareau River. The Rouge River is located in the Lanaudière region.
It flows through several areas:
- In the Matawinie area: the towns of Chertsey, Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, and Rawdon.
- In Montcalm: Saint-Liguori.
- In the Joliette Regional County Municipality: the towns of Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare and Crabtree.
The river flows south of the village of Rawdon.
Forestry, which is about managing forests for wood, is the main activity in the upper part of the river valley. In the middle and lower parts, farming is more common, except in town areas.
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Where Does the Rouge River Start and Flow?
The Rouge River begins at Couture Lake. This lake is about 0.8 kilometers (0.5 miles) long and sits 281 meters (922 feet) above sea level. It looks a bit like a mushroom! Couture Lake is in the northeastern part of Chertsey.
The lake's starting point is:
- 12.1 kilometers (7.5 miles) west of the center of Sainte-Béatrix.
- 14.6 kilometers (9.1 miles) north of the center of Rawdon.
- 6.5 kilometers (4.0 miles) east of the Ouareau River.
From Couture Lake, the Rouge River flows for 56.5 kilometers (35.1 miles). It drops 253 meters (830 feet) in height along its journey.
The Upper Part of the River
The first part of the Rouge River is about 24.6 kilometers (15.3 miles) long.
- It flows southeast for 1.2 kilometers (0.7 miles) to the edge of Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez.
- Then, it goes north for 1.0 kilometer (0.6 miles) in Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez, reaching the water from Lac Gareau.
- It turns northeast for 2.8 kilometers (1.7 miles) to the northern end of Lac Gareau.
- The river then flows south for 2.8 kilometers (1.7 miles), passing through Lac Joly, Lac de la Fromantière, and Lake Dontigny.
- It continues south for 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) to the water from Morgan Lake.
- For 0.8 kilometers (0.5 miles), it flows southeast along the border between Saint-Alphonse-Rodriguez and Chertsey, reaching the water from Lac Marchand.
- It goes south for 3.6 kilometers (2.2 miles) in Chertsey, passing under a forest road bridge.
- Then, it flows southward for 7.7 kilometers (4.8 miles) to the north shore of Rawdon Lake.
- Finally, it crosses Rawdon Lake for 2.2 kilometers (1.4 miles). Rawdon Lake is 2.9 kilometers (1.8 miles) long and is 155 meters (509 feet) above sea level. This lake is shaped like the letter 'L' and is in the village of Rawdon.
The Middle Part of the River
After Rawdon Lake, the Rouge River flows for another 31.9 kilometers (19.8 miles).
- It flows east for 2.6 kilometers (1.6 miles), going north of the village. It makes a hook to the south and then a big 'S' shape before reaching Quebec Route 348.
- It continues east for 8.2 kilometers (5.1 miles), making loops to the north and south. It collects water from Lake Joe and winds around until it crosses Nadeau road. Here, it meets the Blanche River.
- The river flows eastward for 6.8 kilometers (4.2 miles), crossing Lane Road, 5th Rang Road, and Wilfrid Road. It winds a lot until it reaches the border of Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare.
- It then flows southeast for 1.1 kilometers (0.7 miles), winding its way to the border of Chertsey.
- For 2.1 kilometers (1.3 miles), it flows southeast in Chertsey, winding until it reaches Quebec Route 346.
- It continues southeast for 5.5 kilometers (3.4 miles), collecting water from Le Grand Ruisseau. It winds its way to the edge of Crabtree.
- Finally, it flows southeast for 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles) in Crabtree, crossing chemin Saint-Jacques and Quebec Route 158. It winds until it joins the Ouareau River.
The Rouge River ends by flowing into the north side of the Ouareau River. The Ouareau River then flows southeast into the L'Assomption River. This meeting point is:
- 17.0 kilometers (10.6 miles) northwest of the Saint Lawrence River.
- 1.2 kilometers (0.7 miles) north of the Crabtree bridge over the Ouareau River.
- 5.9 kilometers (3.7 miles) southeast of downtown Joliette.
How the River Got Its Name
The word "toponymy" means the study of place names. The name "Rivière Rouge" (Red River) was officially recognized on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec.
