La Vallée-du-Richelieu Regional County Municipality

La Vallée-du-Richelieu (The Valley of the Richelieu) is a regional county municipality in the Montérégie region in southwestern Quebec, Canada. Its seat is McMasterville.

La Vallée-du-Richelieu
Regional county municipality
Location in province of Quebec.
Coordinates: 45°34′N 73°12′W
Country Canada
Province Quebec
RegionMontérégie
EffectiveJanuary 1, 1982
County seatMcMasterville
Government
  TypePrefecture
  PrefectGilles Plante
Area
  Total605.50 km2 (233.78 sq mi)
  Land588.60 km2 (227.26 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)
  Total124,420
  Density211.4/km2 (548/sq mi)
  Change
2011-2016
6.5%
  Dwellings
49,971
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
  Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Area code(s)450 and 579
Websitewww.mrcvr.ca

It surrounds the Richelieu River as the river flows north from Lake Champlain in the United States to the Saint Lawrence River northeast of Montreal at Sorel-Tracy, Quebec. Dramatically different from the mountainous terrain to the south, the river valley is a vast plain that has been developed with extensive farmlands.

In the 21st century, the Richelieu River is very popular for both U.S. and Canadian recreational boaters, providing a connection that can bring boaters all the way from the outlet of the Saint Lawrence River to New York Harbor. A number of old fortifications exist dating back to the 17th century; they were built by the French in an effort to try to prevent the Iroquois from using the river as a way to attack the French settlers in the area. Fort Richelieu is at the mouth of the Richelieu River. Fort St. Louis (now Fort Chambly) at Chambly, Fort Sainte-Thérèse, and Fort Saint-Jean at Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, are on the way. Fort St. Anne Isle La Motte, Vermont in Lake Champlain is near the river's source. The region is informally known as la Vallée-des-Forts.

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