Saint Lawrence River: Difference between revisions
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==Major tributaries== | ==Major tributaries== | ||
[[Lake Champlain]] and the [[Ottawa River|Ottawa]], [[Richelieu River|Richelieu]], and [[Saguenay River|Saguenay]] rivers drain into the St. Lawrence. | [[Lake Champlain]] and the [[Ottawa River|Ottawa]], [[Richelieu River|Richelieu]], and [[Saguenay River|Saguenay]] rivers drain into the St. Lawrence. | ||
==Recreation== | |||
The Thousand Islands region is a popular recreational area. Many beaches along the St. Lawrence have had to be closed due to [[pollution]], although the efforts are underway to improve water quality and some beaches have been re-opened. While the [[Lachine Rapids]] make boating hazardous, they also provide a venue for [[white water rafting]], [[kayaking]] and even [[river surfing]]. A [[standing wave]] adjacent to the [[Habitat 67]] housing complex has become a well known surf spot. | |||
Revision as of 11:58, 3 February 2008
The Saint Lawrence River is a large river in North America. It is the primary drainage of the Great Lakes into the Atlantic Ocean. The river flows through the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, forming part of the Canada-United States border between Ontario and the New York State.
Geography
The Saint Lawrence River originates at the outflow of Lake Ontario between Kingston, Ontario on the north bank and Cape Vincent, New York on the south. From there, it flows through the Thousand Islands and then the Hochelaga Archipelago, which includes the island of Montreal. At Montreal, the river widens, to form Lake Saint Louis and then narrows again at the Lachine Rapids.
Further downstream, the river passes the provincial capital of Quebec City before draining into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, the largest estuary in the world.
Distance, draining & discharge
The Saint Lawrence River runs 1,197 kilometres (744 miles) from its outflow at the eastern end of Lake Ontario. Its drainage area includes the Great Lakes, the world's largest system of fresh water lakes, and has a size of 1.03 million square kilometres (390,000 square miles). The average discharge at the mouth is 10,400 cubic metres per second (367,000 cubic feet per second).
Major tributaries
Lake Champlain and the Ottawa, Richelieu, and Saguenay rivers drain into the St. Lawrence.
Recreation
The Thousand Islands region is a popular recreational area. Many beaches along the St. Lawrence have had to be closed due to pollution, although the efforts are underway to improve water quality and some beaches have been re-opened. While the Lachine Rapids make boating hazardous, they also provide a venue for white water rafting, kayaking and even river surfing. A standing wave adjacent to the Habitat 67 housing complex has become a well known surf spot.