The Saint Lawrence River begins at the outflow of Lake Ontario, the fifth largest lake in Canada. The biggest lake in Canada is Lake Superior, which shares its borders with the United States. The river drains into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, which is one of the largest estuary in the world. Estuaries are partially enclosed bodies of brackish water and act as a transition zone from river environments into maritime environments. The
French navigator discovered Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River was named by the first European explorer to sail into the river, Jacques Cartier. As Cartier arrived in the estuary on Saint Lawrence’s feast day, he named the river after the saint.
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Website (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca). (February 7, 2016). Leading rivers in Canada, based on discharge volume (in cubic meters per second) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Retrieved July 23, 2026, from /statistics/574103/greatest-rivers-in-canada-based-on-discharge-volume/
Website (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca). "Leading rivers in Canada, based on discharge volume (in cubic meters per second)." Chart. February 7, 2016. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Accessed July 23, 2026. /statistics/574103/greatest-rivers-in-canada-based-on-discharge-volume/
Website (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca). (2016). Leading rivers in Canada, based on discharge volume (in cubic meters per second). ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 23, 2026. /statistics/574103/greatest-rivers-in-canada-based-on-discharge-volume/
Website (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca). "Leading Rivers in Canada, Based on Discharge Volume (in Cubic Meters per Second)." ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc., 7 Feb 2016, /statistics/574103/greatest-rivers-in-canada-based-on-discharge-volume/
Website (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca), Leading rivers in Canada, based on discharge volume (in cubic meters per second) ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, /statistics/574103/greatest-rivers-in-canada-based-on-discharge-volume/ (last visited July 23, 2026)
Leading rivers in Canada, based on discharge volume (in cubic meters per second) [Graph], Website (thecanadianencyclopedia.ca), February 7, 2016. [Online]. Available: /statistics/574103/greatest-rivers-in-canada-based-on-discharge-volume/