Petite Rivière is a river in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 located entirely within Lunenburg County

Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia

Lunenburg County is a county located on the South Shore of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, It ranges from Hubbards to the east and Vogler's Cove to the west.-History:...

. It is fed by numerous lakes and a portion of the watershed is the drinking water supply for the Town of Bridgewater

Bridgewater, Nova Scotia

Bridgewater is a town in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, Canada, at the navigable limit of the LaHave River. It is the largest town in the South Shore region. While the majority of the South Shore's economy is based upon the tourist trade, Bridgewater is more a commercial and industrial centre and...

.

Three of the lakes on Petite Rivière (Hebb, Millipisigate and Minamkeak) are the only known habitat of the Atlantic Whitefish

Atlantic whitefish

The Atlantic whitefish is a freshwater salmonid fish inhabiting the northwestern Atlantic ocean around the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, as well as some freshwater lakes within Nova Scotia. C. huntsmani was originally designated Coregonus canadensis, but the species name was changed in 1987. ...

. Through damming of the lakes, some of the water that once fed the Medway River

Medway River (Nova Scotia)

Medway River is a river in Queen's County, on the Southwestern shore of Nova Scotia, Canada. At 121 kilometres long, it is one of the major rivers of Nova Scotia and once supported a large run of Atlantic salmon. Historically, it was an important corridor to the interior waters of Nova Scotia such...

 now flows through the Petite Rivière system. There was a water aerodrome

Fancy Lake Water Aerodrome

Fancy Lake Water Aerodrome was located south southwest of Fancy Lake, Nova Scotia, Canada. The airport was listed as abandoned in the 15 March 2007 Canada Flight Supplement....

 at Fancy Lake.

Samuel de Champlain

Samuel de Champlain

Samuel de Champlain , "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat, and chronicler. He founded New France and Quebec City on July 3, 1608....

 is said to have given the river its name after landing near the mouth during the early 17th century. The river lends its name to the small community of Petite Riviere Bridge

Petite Riviere Bridge, Nova Scotia

Petite Riviere Bridge is a small village on the South Shore in Nova Scotia in Canada. It is located about 20 minutes outside of Bridgewater. It is located between Rissers Beach Provincial Park and the community of Green Bay...

, commonly called by the local residents "Petite Riviere" or simply "Petite".