Saint-Maurice River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint-Maurice River
Saint-Maurice River at Grandes-Piles
Native name	Rivière Saint-Maurice
Other name(s)	Tapiskwan sipi
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Mauricie
Physical characteristics
Main source	Gouin Reservoir 404 m (1,325 ft) 48°21′15″N 74°06′00″W / 48.35417°N 74.10000°W / 48.35417; -74.10000
River mouth	Saint Lawrence River Trois-Rivières 3 m (9.8 ft) 46°20′55″N 72°31′40″W / 46.34861°N 72.52778°W / 46.34861; -72.52778
Length	563 km (350 mi)
Basin features
Basin size	43,300 km2 (16,700 sq mi)

The Saint-Maurice River is a big river in central Quebec, Canada. It flows from north to south, starting at the Gouin Reservoir. The river ends by emptying into the Saint Lawrence River at Trois-Rivières.

The Saint-Maurice River is about 563 kilometers (350 miles) long. Its drainage basin, which is the area of land that collects water for the river, covers 43,300 square kilometers (16,700 sq. miles). This makes it one of the most important rivers that flow into the Saint Lawrence River. From its source, the river drops about 405 meters (1,330 feet) in height.

Long ago, fur traders used the river to travel. Later, in the 1800s, logging became a major industry. For most of the 1900s, the river helped transport logs to sawmills. Today, it is still a very important source of hydroelectric power. This means it helps make electricity using the force of its water.

The river was the first way to travel in this area. Native Americans used it long before Europeans arrived. Explorers and trappers also used it as a main route in Quebec. Many towns grew up along its banks. These towns used the river's power to build dams and power stations. Some well-known cities along the river include La Tuque, Shawinigan, and Trois-Rivières.

What's in a Name? The River's History

Saint-Maurice River in Trois-Rivières.

The Saint-Maurice River has had several names over time. The Algonquin people first called it "Métabéroutin." This name means "discharge of the wind." The Atikamekw people of Haute-Mauricie still call it "Sipi Tapiskwan." This means "river of the threaded needle." The Abenaki people called it "Madôbaladenitekw," or "the river that ends."

In 1535, explorer Jacques Cartier named it "River Fouez." He did this to honor the House of Foix. However, this name was not used much after the early 1600s. It was then called "Three Rivers."

The river got its current name in the early 1700s. This name comes from the "fief of Saint-Maurice." A fief was a piece of land given to someone by a lord. This land was on the west bank of the river. It was given around 1668 to Maurice Poulin in La Fontaine. He owned some land along the river in the 1600s. The name "St. Maurice" was first written down in 1723. It fully replaced "Three Rivers" between 1730 and 1740. The river also gave its name to the Mauricie region.

Cities and Towns Along the River

Many communities are located along the Saint-Maurice River. They are listed here from the mouth of the river (where it meets the Saint Lawrence) going upstream:

Bridges and Crossings

Many bridges and other structures cross the Saint-Maurice River. They help people and trains get from one side to the other. Here are some of them, listed from downstream (near Trois-Rivières) to upstream:

Crossings in Trois-Rivières

Crossings in Shawinigan Area

Crossings in La Tuque Area

Hydroelectric Power Plants and Dams

The Saint-Maurice River is home to several hydroelectric power stations and dams. These facilities use the river's flow to create electricity. All of these power plants are owned by Hydro-Québec. They are listed from downstream to upstream:

Timber Transportation on the River

For almost 150 years, the Saint-Maurice River was used to transport timber. This process is called "timber flotation." Logs were floated down the river from forests to mills. In 1996, the Saint-Maurice River was the last river in Quebec to stop this practice.

Each spring, workers would clean the river banks. They would free logs that got stuck on the shores or rocks. These logs were then sent downstream to paper mills.

Fish and Wildlife in the River

Experts have studied the fish in the Saint-Maurice River. In the last 174 kilometers (108 miles) of the river, between Trois-Rivières and La Tuque, they found 42 different kinds of fish.

The number of fish in the river is generally low. This is common for rivers in the Canadian Shield region.

See also

In Spanish: Río Saint-Maurice para niños