Sautauriski River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sautauriski River |
|
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Rivière Sautauriski |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Capitale-Nationale |
| Regional County Municipality | La Jacques-Cartier and La Côte-de-Beaupré |
| Unorganized territory and a municipality | Lac-Jacques-Cartier and Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Nouvel Lake 47°25′51″N 71°16′18″W / 47.43083°N 71.27167°W |
| River mouth | Saint Lawrence River Donnacona 46°11′09″N 71°22′45″W / 46.18583°N 71.37917°W |
| Length | 35.1 km (21.8 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries |
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The Sautauriski River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Jacques-Cartier River. This river is found in the Capitale-Nationale region.
The Sautauriski River flows through two main areas. It crosses the unorganized territory of Lac-Jacques-Cartier. It also flows through the town of Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury.
This river is a very important part of the Jacques-Cartier River system. The entire river runs inside the Jacques-Cartier National Park. This park is managed by the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (Sépaq).
The area around the Sautauriski River is mostly served by Route 175. This main road connects Quebec and Saguenay. There are also smaller roads used for logging and tourism.
Logging is the main business in this area. Tourism and outdoor activities are also very popular. The river usually freezes from early December to late March. It's generally safe to walk on the ice from late December to early March.
Contents
River's Location and Surroundings
The Sautauriski River is surrounded by other important waterways. Understanding these helps us see where the river fits in.
Nearby Rivers and Basins
- North side: You'll find the Jacques-Cartier River, rivière à la Chute, and Launière River.
- East side: The Montmorency River, rivière des Neiges, and rivière du Camp Brûlé are located here.
- South side: The Jacques-Cartier River and Turgeon River are to the south.
- West side: The Jacques-Cartier River is also on the west side.
Where the Sautauriski River Starts
The Sautauriski River begins at a place called Nouvel Lake. This lake is about 1.0 kilometer long. It sits at a high point, about 768 meters above sea level.
Nouvel Lake: The Source
Nouvel Lake is in an unorganized territory called Lac-Jacques-Cartier. This area is part of the La Côte-de-Beaupré Regional County Municipality. The water flows out of the lake from its east side. There is a small dam at this outlet.
The River's Journey
From Nouvel Lake, the Sautauriski River flows for about 35.1 kilometers. During its journey, the river drops about 489 meters in height. This creates a varied and interesting path.
Upper Part of the River
The first part of the Sautauriski River is about 17.4 kilometers long.
- It flows southeast for about 2.3 kilometers.
- Along this path, it crosses part of Lac Archambault for about 1.4 kilometers.
- Then, it flows south for about 8.4 kilometers. It goes through a marshy area and crosses Sautauriski Lake. This lake is 5.0 kilometers long.
- After Sautauriski Lake, it flows southeast for 2.0 kilometers. The valley gets deeper here.
- Finally, it flows south for 7.0 kilometers in a deep valley. This section ends at a bend in the river.
Lower Part of the River
The second part of the Sautauriski River is about 15.4 kilometers long.
- It flows west, then southwest, for about 5.9 kilometers. This part is also in a deep valley.
- Next, it flows north, then west, for about 2.4 kilometers. It forms some curves and passes the outlet of Lac Giroux.
- It continues southwest for 2.5 kilometers. Here, it meets the Chute River.
- The last section is about 4.6 kilometers long, flowing southwest. It makes a big loop to go around the Sautauriski mountain. This section leads to where the river ends.
The Sautauriski River joins the Jacques-Cartier River on its east bank. From this meeting point, the water flows south for about 54.7 kilometers. It eventually reaches the northeast bank of the mighty Saint Lawrence River.
The Name "Sautauriski"
The name "Sautauriski" has a long history and interesting meanings. It comes from the languages of Indigenous peoples.
Early Mentions of the Name
In 1829, a Wendat (Huron) chief named Nicolas Vincent first spoke about the name. He was talking to a special committee. This committee was looking at how land was being used in the St. Lawrence Valley. Chief Vincent drew a map of the Wendat territory. On his map, he wrote the name "Tsoolareske."
He told a commissioner named John Adams that the river and mountains were called "Soulariski" in Huron. This meant "the bark is long."
Other Ideas About the Name
Later, a person named Thomas-Edmond Giroux studied the name. He thought it might come from the Attikamek or Innu language. He translated it as "the forest, it cries." He believed this was because lichens on the trees held water and dripped it. However, this idea is now questioned.
Marguerite Vincent, another Wendat person, agreed with Nicolas Vincent's meaning. She said the Wendat people went to the Sautauriski area to find long barks. These barks were used to make canoes and baskets. She thought the name came from Wendat words meaning "bark" and "long."
She also mentioned that the Sautauriski area was Innu territory. This makes people think the name could be from the Innu language. It might come from "tshinuashkui," meaning "this thing is long" and "upper bark used for canoes." An older translation from 1916, "bout du museau" (end of the snout), is likely incorrect.
The name "Sautauriski River" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a place-name board in Quebec.
