Missinaibi River

Missinaibi River
Thunderhouse Falls
Country Canada
Province Ontario
Region Algoma District, Cochrane District
Source Missinaibi Lake
 - location 12 km SSW from Peterbell inside the Chapleau Crown Game Preserve, Algoma District
 - coordinates 48°29′56″N 83°25′52″W / 48.49889°N 83.43111°W / 48.49889; -83.43111
Mouth Moose River
 - location Unorg. Cochrane District
 - coordinates 50°44′08″N 81°28′02″W / 50.73556°N 81.46722°W / 50.73556; -81.46722Coordinates: 50°44′08″N 81°28′02″W / 50.73556°N 81.46722°W / 50.73556; -81.46722
Length 426 km (265 mi) [1]
Basin 23,500 km2 (9,100 sq mi) [1]
Conjuring Rock below Thunderhouse Falls

The Missinaibi River is a river in northern Ontario, Canada, which flows northeast from Missinaibi Lake, north of Chapleau, and empties into the Moose River, which drains into James Bay. This river (including Missinaibi Lake and Moose River to James Bay) is 755 kilometres (469 mi) in length.[2] It is one of the longest free-flowing and undeveloped rivers in Ontario.[3]

The river's name means "pictured waters" in the Cree language which is thought to refer to the pictographs found on rock faces along the river.

At Thunderhouse Falls, which is actually a chain of relatively small waterfalls connected by violent rapids, the river drops 40 metres, part of its descent from the Canadian Shield to the Hudson Bay Lowlands.

History

In fur trade days the Missinaibi was the main route between James Bay and Lake Superior. The route was: James Bay, Moose Factory, Moose River (Ontario), Missinaibi River, Missinaibi Lake, portage probably via Crooked Lake, Dog Lake, Michipicoten River to Fort Michipicoten on Lake Superior. Trade was contested by the English from the north and the French from the south. In 1774 the Hudson's Bay Company began building posts in the interior. In 1775-76 Edward Jarvis from Henley House went up the Kenogami River, crossed to the Missinaibi and went down to Michicopicten. In 1781 Philip Turnor surveyed the Missinaibi route to Michicopicten.

The three main posts, all at times called Brunswick House or similar were[4]

Today, the river is used for canoeing, fishing and camping. Recreational use is facilitated by an arrangement which allows canoeists to load their boats on a train so they can be returned south, after canoeing the wild stretches of the river. The river is managed as a provincial waterway park and was designated as a Canadian Heritage River in 2004.

Ontario Northland freigh train crossing the Missinaibi River at Mattice-Val Côté in Northern Ontario
Ontario Northland freigh train crossing the Missinaibi River at Mattice-Val Côté in Northern Ontario

Tributaries

Missinaibi Provincial Park

Missinaibi Provincial Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Location Ontario, Canada
Nearest city Mattice
Area 990.90 square kilometres (382.59 sq mi)
Established 1970, enlarged in 1989
Governing body Ontario Parks

The entire length of the Missinaibi River from Missinaibi Lake to the Moose River is protected and part of the Missinaibi Provincial Park. The park also includes Missinaibi Lake, Brunswick River, Brunswick Lake, Little Missinaibi River, and Little Missinaibi Lake.

Established in 1970 the park is huge and encompasses in total over 991 square kilometres (383 square miles) of wilderness.

While rarely visited by travellers it is well-known amongst canoeing enthusiasts and is one of their "must visit" destinations.

Two main routes are available to paddlers:

1. Missinaibi River Route - stretching for 238 kilometres (144 miles) from the towns of Missinabie to Mattice

2. Mattice to Moosonee Route - This 316 kilometre (190 mile) route takes paddlers to the edge of James Bay and the near arctic.

Other activities at the park include: Hiking, fishing, camping, wildlife viewing and hunting

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Atlas of Canada
  2. Wilson, Hap (1994). Missinaibi - Journey to the Northern Sky. pp. 45 60 122. ISBN 1-895465-08-7.
  3. "Missinaibi". Ontario Parks. 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2009-06-04.
  4. Elizabeth Browne Losey,"Let Them Be Remembered: The Story of the Fur Trade Forts",1999
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/20/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.