Tourilli River facts for kids

The Tourilli River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows into the Sainte-Anne River. The river runs through areas like Lac-Croche and Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier. The top part of the river goes through the Laurentides Wildlife Reserve.

Forest roads help people get to the river for logging and fun activities. The main activities here are forestry (cutting down trees) and tourism (people visiting for fun).

The river usually freezes from early December to late March. It's safest to walk on the ice from late December to early March. The water level changes with the seasons and how much it rains. The river floods in March or April when the snow melts.

Where the Tourilli River Starts and Flows

The Tourilli River begins at Tourilli Lake. This lake is about 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) long and sits high up in the mountains at 665 metres (2,182 ft) above sea level. Other smaller lakes and streams feed into Tourilli Lake.

The mouth of Tourilli Lake is about 32.6 kilometres (20.3 mi) north of where the Tourilli River joins the Sainte-Anne River. It's also about 98.8 kilometres (61.4 mi) north of where the Sainte-Anne River meets the St. Lawrence River.

From Tourilli Lake, the river flows for about 56.3 kilometres (35.0 mi) through a forest. It drops about 246 metres (807 ft) in height along its path.

The River's Journey

The river's journey can be split into three main parts:

Upper Part of the River

In its upper section, the river flows through several small lakes. It goes east, then north, passing through Lake Martel. It then turns northwest, then east, crossing Lake Trigone and Lac des Laiches. Lac des Laiches gets water from other lakes like Inerte and Hudon. The river then forms a hook, picking up water from Juneau Lake, before flowing through Gregory Lake. Gregory Lake receives water from many other lakes, including Doradilles, Hunau, and Etheleen.

Middle Part of the River

The middle part of the river flows southeast. It crosses a forest road and a small lake. It then flows through a deep valley, picking up water from lakes Écho and Forget, and Gallant and Meute lakes. The river also flows through Deep Lake. Further along, it meets the Chézine North River. This section continues southeast, then south, collecting water from Carcajou Lake and Toosey Lake.

Lower Part of the River

The lower part of the river flows south through a deep valley. It collects water from Lake Mitchell and Lac à la Vase. It then makes a few turns, flowing west and then south, before reaching its end.

The Tourilli River finally joins the Sainte-Anne River. This meeting point is about 14.1 kilometres (8.8 mi) west of the Jacques-Cartier River. From this point, the Sainte-Anne River flows for about 109.1 kilometres (67.8 mi) generally south and southwest until it reaches the Saint Lawrence River.

What's in a Name?

The name "Tourilli" has an interesting history. The river flows through mountains, with parts that look like waterfalls and steep cliffs. This area was known for its rich forests and many animals.

The name "Tourilli" comes from an old Indigenous language. It first appeared in writing in 1829 as "Atourile." There are two possible meanings for this word: "the executioner" or "agitated water." The meaning "agitated water," linked to the Wendat language, seems to be the most likely. Many Indigenous groups visited this area long ago, so different names or meanings were sometimes used for the same place.

The official name "Rivière Tourilli" was made formal on December 5, 1968, by the Commission de toponymie du Québec, which is like a government group that names places in Quebec.