Canadian Physical Geography

The Columbia Encyclopedia,... World Encyclopedia A Dictionary of British... Concise Dictionary of World... Further reading

Saint Lawrence

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

Saint Lawrence one of the principal rivers of North America, 744 mi (1,197 km) long. It issues from the northeastern end of Lake Ontario and flows northeast, first along the U.S.-Canadian border, then into S Que., Canada, past Montreal and Quebec City, to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, N of Cape Gaspé. It is the outlet of the Great Lakes and together with them forms a c.2,300-mi (3,700-km) waterway from the western end of Lake Superior to the Atlantic Ocean. The river is an integral part of the Saint Lawrence Seaway (opened 1959).

In its upper course the river cuts through a part of the Canadian Shield; there, just downstream from Lake Ontario, are the Thousand Islands . Below Cornwall, Ont., the river widens into Lake St. Francis. Shortly after, it widens again into Lake St. Louis then descends through the Lachine Rapids to Montreal, head of navigation for very large oceangoing vessels. Between Sorel and Trois Rivières is Lake St. Peter. Below the city of Quebec the river is tidal. It gradually increases in width to c.90 mi (140 km) at its mouth. The river's principal tributaries are the Richelieu (linking the St. Lawrence with Lake Champlain and the Hudson River), St. Francis, Ottawa, St. Maurice, and Saguenay rivers.

The St. Lawrence River is an important source of hydroelectric power; one of the world's largest facilities is the Beauharnois power plant near Montreal. Agreements between the United States and Canada govern power distribution and navigation in the international section of the river. The river's valley is an agricultural region; potatoes, grains, hay, vegetables, and dairy cattle are raised. The most important cities and ports along the St. Lawrence are Ogdensburg, N.Y.; Kingston, Brockville, and Cornwall, Ont.; and Montreal, Sorel, Trois Rivières, Quebec City, and Lévis, Que.

Canals have been constructed around the river's rapids, making the entire river navigable; however, the upper part is unnavigable during the winter months because of ice accumulation. The many bridges that cross the St. Lawrence River include the Thousand Islands International Bridge (1938), the Roosevelt International Bridge (1934), and the Seaway Skyway Bridge (1960), all between Ontario and New York; the Victoria Bridge (remodeled 1898) at Montreal; and the Quebec Bridge (1917), near Quebec City.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"Saint Lawrence." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Saint Lawrence." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-StLawr.html

"Saint Lawrence." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-StLawr.html

Learn more about citation styles

St Lawrence

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

St Lawrence Second-longest river in Canada, flowing from the ne end of Lake Ontario to the Gulf of St Lawrence, Québec. The river forms the boundary between the USA and Canada for c.180km (110mi) of its total length of 1200km (750mi). Since the completion of the St Lawrence Seaway in 1959, the river has been navigable to all but the very largest vessels. The St Lawrence system of canals, locks and dams generates much of the hydroelectric power used in Ontario and New York.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"St Lawrence." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"St Lawrence." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-StLawrence.html

"St Lawrence." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-StLawrence.html

Learn more about citation styles

St Lawrence

A Dictionary of British Place-Names | 2003 | | Copyright

St Lawrence, ‘place with a church dedicated to St Lawrence’: St Lawrence I. of Wight. ‘Church of Sanctus Laurencius’ 1255. Originally also called Wathe (Wathe 1311, St Laurence de Wathe 1340), ‘(place at) the ford’ from OE wæd. St Lawrence Kent. ‘Church of Sanctus Laurencius’ 1253. St Lawrence Pemb. Rectoria Sancti Laurentii 1535.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

A. D. MILLS. "St Lawrence." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

A. D. MILLS. "St Lawrence." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-StLawrence.html

A. D. MILLS. "St Lawrence." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-StLawrence.html

Learn more about citation styles

Saint Lawrence

Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names | 2005 | | Copyright

Saint Lawrence, Australia, Barbados, Canada, USA Canada‐USA: a river, part of which forms the border between Canada and the USA. Explored by Jacques Cartier^† in 1534, it was named by him because he first saw the river on 10 August, the feast day of St Lawrence (d. 258), a Roman martyr. The river gives its name to the Gulf of St Lawrence and the St Lawrence Seaway.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Saint Lawrence." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Saint Lawrence." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-SaintLawrence.html

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Saint Lawrence." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-SaintLawrence.html

Learn more about citation styles

Lawrence, St

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Copyright

Lawrence, St (d.258), Roman martyr and deacon of Rome. According to tradition, Lawrence was ordered by the prefect of Rome to deliver up the treasure of the Church; when in response to this order he presented the poor people of Rome to the prefect, he was roasted to death on a gridiron (see also Laurence). His traditional emblem is a gridiron, and his feast day is 10 August.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Lawrence, St." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Lawrence, St." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-LawrenceSt.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Lawrence, St." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-LawrenceSt.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Lawrence has Saints rattled; Corner boys: Sidibe (right) is congratulated by... Newspaper article from: Daily Mail (London); 2/13/2008
	Cumulative impacts of hydrology and human activities on water quality in the... Magazine article from: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences; 6/1/2008
	Saint Lawrence of Brindisi feast.(Main News) Newspaper article from: Manila Bulletin; 7/20/2011