Lachine Rapids

The Lachine Rapids ( Rapides de Lachine French, English Lachine Rapids ) are a series of rapids in the St. Lawrence River. They lie south of the Ile de Montréal, between the Montreal borough LaSalle at the north and the town of Sainte -Catherine on the south bank. They are named after the further west Lachine, since the area of LaSalle once belonged to the local parish.

Geography

Between the Lac Saint -Louis in the west and the Bassin de Laprairie in the East overcomes the Saint Lawrence River for a distance of three kilometers, a height difference of about 13 meters. In the midst of the rapids are several small islands, the migratory birds serve as a resting place. These include the Ile aux Hérons ( Heron Island), Ile aux Chèvres ( Goat Island), the Sept Sœurs ( Seven Sisters ) and the Ile au Diable ( Devil's Island ). The rapids cause permanent standing waves in some places. In particular, those in the residential area Habitat 67 is popular with whitewater kayakers, rafters and river surfers popular.

History

The first European who discovered the rapids was Jacques Cartier, in 1535 when he sailed up the St. Lawrence River. 1611 Samuel de Champlain described in detail. He gave them the name of Sault Saint -Louis, named after a companion named Louis, who drowned here. This name was common until the mid-19th century, after the nearby town Lachine was the namesake.

Since barges the treacherous body could not overcome a portage was necessary, which complicated the settlement further west facing areas. To circumvent the obstacle of the Lachine Canal was built. Even after its opening in 1825, it was often easier to transport goods by rail to Montreal and to transfer them in the local harbor. Since 1959, the Lachine rapids can be avoided via the locks Saint -Lambert and Côte Sainte -Catherine, the St. Lawrence Seaway.

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