The course of this river successively crosses the RCM of: It flows into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.

The southern part of the Tortue River watershed is served by the route 138 which runs along the north shore of the estuary of Saint Lawrence.

The river originates from Turtle Lake (length: 3.5 km (2.2 mi) octopus-shaped; altitude: 620 m (2,030 ft)).

[2] A painted metal bridge carries Quebec Route 138 over the river nears its mouth.

[7] A map of the ecological regions of Quebec shows the river basin in sub-regions 6j-T and 6m-T of the east spruce/moss subdomain.