Saint Jacques River

Saint-Jacques River is a river in southwestern Quebec, Canada that drains the Saint Lawrence Lowlands. It flows in a general south to north direction, from the area around Saint-Jacques-le-Mineur (in Les Jardins-de-Napierville) to its mouth in the Saint Lawrence River, at the border between the cities of Brossard and La Prairie. The total length of the course of this river is about 25 kilometres (16 mi).

Geography

The Saint-Jacques River meanders through the agricultural and forested lowlands of the Montérégie region near the Saint Lawrence River. As a result, it flows through and drains areas of sparse and dense population like agricultural towns and suburban cities on the south shore of the Island of Montreal.

Meandering course

A common characteristic of rivers, such as this one, that flow through sedimentary soil of lowlands is the formation of bends and oxbow lakes along its course. This meandering course is due to the erosion of the soil. One notable oxbow lake along this river is located in the territory of Brossard, forming an island (at ).

History

Early 17th century

The Saint-Jacques River was first described by Samuel de Champlain in his notes on his 1611 voyage along the Saint Lawrence River and in the area around La Place Royale on the Island of Montreal:

Le 7 iour ie fut recognoistre une petite rivière par où vont quelquefois les Sauvages à la guerre, qui se va rendre au sault de la rivière des Hiroquois: elle est fort plaisante, y ayant plus de trois lieues de circuit de prairies et forces terres qui se peuvent labourer. Elle est à une lieue du grand sault, & une lieu & demie de la Place Royale.|Samuel de Champlain|[1]