Saint-Jean River (Saguenay River tributary) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint-Jean River |
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|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Capitale-Nationale and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean |
| Regional County Municipality | Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality |
| Municipalities | L'Anse-Saint-Jean |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Brébeuf Lake Rivière-Éternité 226 m (741 ft) 48°11′07″N 70°35′53″W / 48.18528°N 70.59805°W |
| River mouth | Saguenay River L'Anse-Saint-Jean 3 m (9.8 ft) 48°14′29″N 70°11′53″E / 48.24139°N 70.19805°E |
| Length | 38.8 km (24.1 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Saint-Jean River is a beautiful river in Quebec, Canada. It flows through the towns of Rivière-Éternité and L'Anse-Saint-Jean. This river is part of the Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality. It is located in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean area.
A special part of the Saint-Jean River is found within the Zec du Lac-Brébeuf. A ZEC is a "controlled harvesting zone." This means that hunting, fishing, and trapping are managed there.
The main road near the river is Route 170. This road helps people get to places like "Le Ruisseau-du-Portage" and "La Chute-à-Salum." Other smaller roads are used for logging and tourism.
The most important activity in this area is forestry, which means cutting down trees. Tourism, like visiting for fun, is the second most important activity. The river usually freezes from late November to early April. It's safest to walk on the ice from mid-December to late March.
Contents
River's Journey and Surroundings
The Saint-Jean River starts at Brébeuf Lake. This lake is quite long, about 12.5 km (7.8 mi). It is also about 1.4 km (0.87 mi) wide at its widest point. The lake sits at an elevation of 226 m (741 ft) above sea level.
The river's mouth, where it begins its flow, is on the east side of Brébeuf Lake. From there, the river flows for about 38.8 km (24.1 mi). It generally moves towards the northeast.
Along its path, the Saint-Jean River passes by several interesting places:
- It flows near Éternity Lake.
- It is also close to the village of Saint-Félix-d'Otis.
- The river eventually reaches the Saguenay River.
- It also flows near Lake Ha! Ha!.
The Saint-Jean River has many twists and turns. It goes through areas with rapids, which are fast-flowing parts of the river. It also forms several loops as it makes its way to the sea.
Where the River Ends
The Saint-Jean River finally empties into Anse Saint-Jean. This bay is located in the village of L'Anse-Saint-Jean. The bay is on the south shore of the larger Saguenay River.
From the mouth of the Saint-Jean River, the water flows into Anse Saint-Jean for about 2.9 km (1.8 mi). Then, it joins the current of the Saguenay River. The Saguenay River then flows for about 42.8 km (26.6 mi) to the east. Finally, it empties into the mighty St. Lawrence River at Tadoussac.
How the River Got Its Name
The name "Rivière Saint-Jean" (Saint-Jean River) has been used for a very long time. It first appeared in a journal written by Louis Aubert in 1731. He wrote it as "Riviere de l'anse S[ain]t Jean" and "Riviere S[ain]t Jean." This shows that the name was already known back then.
Later, in 1893, a land surveyor named William Tremblay also used the name "Rivière St-Jean" in his report. The official name "Saint-Jean River" was made formal on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is a group that names places in Quebec.
Related Places and Rivers
- Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality
- Rivière-Éternité, a town
- L'Anse-Saint-Jean, a town
- Zec du Lac-Brébeuf, a special zone for managing nature
- Brébeuf Lake, where the river starts
- Cami River, another nearby river
- Rivière à la Catin, another nearby river
- Bras à Pierre, a watercourse
- Saint-Jean Bay, the bay where the river ends
- List of rivers of Quebec
