Yamachiche River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yamachiche River |
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Yamachiche River at its mouth on North shore of Lake Saint-Pierre
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| Other name(s) | Rivière Yamachiche |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Mauricie |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lac à la Perchaude Saint-Élie-de-Caxton, Quebec, Canada 175 m (574 ft) 46°31′07″N 72°57′49″W / 46.51861°N 72.96361°W |
| River mouth | Lake Saint-Pierre Yamachiche, Mauricie, Quebec, Canada 5 m (16 ft) 46°09′48″N 73°01′06″W / 46.16333°N 73.01833°W |
| Length | 45 km (28 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 266 km2 (103 sq mi) |
The Yamachiche River is a river in Quebec, Canada. It flows on the north side of Lake Saint-Pierre. This lake is part of the St. Lawrence River system. The river starts in the Mastigouche Wildlife Reserve.
The Yamachiche River flows through different types of land. It begins in a wooded area north of Charette. As it continues, it mostly flows through farms and open fields.
Contents
Where Does the Yamachiche River Flow?
The Yamachiche River is about 45 kilometers (28 miles) long. It starts from a lake called Lac à la Perchaude. The river's journey ends when it flows into Lake Saint-Pierre. This lake is near the town of Yamachiche.
What Rivers are Near the Yamachiche River?
The Yamachiche River has other rivers and streams flowing into it or nearby.
- To the east, you'll find the Otters River and the Clay River.
- To the west, there's the Little Yamachiche River and the River of Loup (Mauricie). These rivers are all part of the same water system.
How Does the River Start?
The main source of the Yamachiche River is a large lake called "Great Long Lake." This lake is in the municipality of Saint-Élie. It gets its water from several smaller lakes.
- One lake is Lake Gareau, which is in Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc.
- Another is Little Lake Gareau, also in Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc. It also gets water from Lake Vanasse.
- There are other small lakes like Bournival Lake and Racquet Lake that feed into the system. The highest lake in this area is the Second Racquet Lake, which is 233 meters (764 feet) high.
The River's Journey Downstream
After leaving the Great Long Lake, the river flows into "Petit lac Long." Then it goes under a bridge and into Lake Perchaud. A small dam is built at the end of Lake Perchaud.
From Lake Perchaud, the river flows south into Lake Garand. It then travels southwest through the village of Saint-Élie.
The River's Path Through Towns
The Yamachiche River continues its journey south. It turns east to pass through the village of Charette.
- It then crosses the border of Saint-Boniface-de-Shawinigan.
- After that, it flows through Saint-Étienne-des-Grès. Here, it meets and collects water from the Machiche River.
- The river then acts as a border between Saint-Étienne-des-Grès and Saint-Barnabé.
The river keeps flowing south through farmlands. It passes east of the village of Saint-Thomas-de-Caxton. Finally, it reaches its end at Lake Saint-Pierre. This is about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) upstream from Trois-Rivières.
The Twin River: Petite rivière Yamachiche
There is another river nearby called the "Petite rivière Yamachiche" (Little Yamachiche River). It runs parallel to the main Yamachiche River for about 16 kilometers (10 miles). This smaller river starts near Saint-Barnabé-Nord. It also flows into Lake Saint-Pierre, just a little bit upstream from the main Yamachiche River's mouth.
What's in a Name? The History of Yamachiche River
The name "Yamachiche River" has a history. In the past, people called it "Rivière Grosbois." This was because it flowed through a very old area known as a "lordship" called Grosbois. It was also sometimes called "Grande Rivière" (Great River) or "Rivière d'Yamachiche."
The official name "Yamachiche River" was recorded on December 5, 1968. This was done by the "Commission de toponymie du Québec," which is like a board that names places in Quebec.
