Snigole River facts for kids

The Snigole River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Malbaie River from its north side. The Snigole River travels south through the zec du Lac-au-Sable area in Mont-Élie. It then goes through Clermont before joining the Malbaie River.

This river mostly flows through forests. It drops about 460 m (1,510 ft) from its start to its end. The Snigole River flows south between American Creek on its west side and the Jacob River on its east side. Along its path, it has many rapids and waterfalls. It finally meets the Malbaie River near a place called "montagne de la Croix" (mountain of the cross).

The eastern side of this small forest valley can be reached by the "chemin des Marais" (path of the Marshes). The main activity here is forestry, which means cutting down trees for wood. Tourism, like hiking or fishing, is also popular. The river usually freezes from mid-December to late March. It's safe to walk on the ice from late December to mid-March.

Where the Snigole River Starts and Flows

The Snigole River begins at a place called “Deuxième lac des Marais” (Second Marsh Lake). This lake is about 1.3 km (0.81 mi) long and sits 519 m (1,703 ft) above sea level. It is located in the southeastern part of Mont-Élie, within the zec du Lac-au-Sable area. This lake is wild and surrounded by a small forest valley. Tall mountains surround it, with peaks reaching 799 m (2,621 ft) to the east, 930 m (3,050 ft) to the south, and 750 m (2,460 ft) to the west. The lake is named "Marsh Lake" because of the marshy areas on its northwestern shore. Four small streams from the northwest bring water from the eastern side of Mont-Élie into the lake.

From the Second Marsh Lake, the Snigole River flows for about 18.7 km (11.6 mi). Here's how it flows:

• For 2.5 km (1.6 mi), it flows southeast. It crosses the First Lake of the Marshes for 1.3 km (0.81 mi) until it reaches a dam.
• Then, for 6.6 km (4.1 mi), it flows south. It passes through many rapids and waterfalls. Towards the end of this part, it turns west to go around a mountain. Here, a stream from the west joins it.
• Next, for 7.0 km (4.3 mi), it flows southeast, then south. It goes through a well-formed valley with three more sets of rapids. A marsh stream from the west flows into it here.
• Finally, for 2.6 km (1.6 mi), it flows southeast under the “chemin des Marais” (Marsh Road) bridge. Then it turns east to meet the Malbaie River.

The Snigole River joins the Malbaie River about 1.0 km (0.62 mi) upstream from a dam on the Malbaie River. This dam makes the Malbaie River wider. The meeting point is also about 2.2 km (1.4 mi) upstream from a railway bridge in downtown Clermont.

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

The name "Snigole" has a mysterious origin. One idea is that it comes from the English words "sea gull." Sea gulls are common birds in this area, except in winter. Another idea is that "Snigole" sounds like "Snieguole," which means "snowman" in the Latvian language. A third idea is that "Snigole" is similar to "Smigole," which is a very rare name.

The name "Snigole River" was officially recognized on December 5, 1968. This was done by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is in charge of place names in Quebec.

Related Places and Rivers

• Zec du Lac-au-Sable: A special area where hunting and fishing are managed.
• Mont-Élie: An area that doesn't have its own local government.
• Clermont: A town in Quebec.
• Malbaie River: The river that the Snigole River flows into.
• List of rivers of Quebec: A list of all the rivers in Quebec.