The rivière aux Rats (from muskrat) is a watercourse crossing the borough Chicoutimi sector, at Saguenay (city) (Quebec, Canada).[1] At 3.72 km (2.31 mi) in length, it is a minor tributary of the Saguenay River.[2]

Rivière aux Rats
The "rivière aux Rats" view from Rosaire-Gauthier park.
Location
Country	Canada
Province	Quebec
Region	Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean
Regional County Municipality	Le Fjord-du-Saguenay Regional County Municipality
City	Saguenay
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Saguenay
Mouth	Saguenay River
• location	Saguenay
• coordinates	48.42333°N 71.06528°E / 48.42333; 71.06528
• elevation	4 m (13 ft)
Length	3.72 km (2.31 mi)
Discharge
• location	Saguenay

The surface of the Rivière aux Rats is usually frozen from the beginning of December to the end of March, however, the safe circulation on the ice is generally done from mid-December to mid-March.

Description

The Rats river flows more or less in parallel between the Chicoutimi River (west side) and the rivière du Moulin (east side).

The Rivière aux Rats begins, in the south, near boulevard du Royaume (route 170), passes near Rosaire-Gauthier Park, under Jean-Béliveau Park and empties into Saguenay River at the height of the rue de l'Hotel-de-Ville.

This watercourse was, in part, channeled in 1929 under the Chicoutimi Downtown.[3]

In its southern part, a woodland protects its natural state.[4] A 2.4 km (1.5 mi) trail, accessible all year round, has been built along the Rats River: the Muscat Rats Trail.[5]

Toponymy

The toponym “Rivière aux Rats” was formalized on February 25, 1976, at the Place Names Bank of the Commission de toponymie du Québec.[1]

Notes and references

Appendices

Related articles

• Chicoutimi
• Saguenay (city)
• Saguenay River
• List of rivers of Quebec