Attawapiskat River
Encyclopedia
The Attawapiskat River is a river
in Kenora District
in northwestern
Ontario
, Canada
that flows east from Attawapiskat Lake
to James Bay
.
The source of the river is Attawapiskat Lake at an elevation of 241 metres (791 ft). The main rivers flowing into the lake that are thus part of the Attawapiskat River drainage basin are the Marten-Drinking River, the Otoskwin River and the Pineimuta River.
There are two outflows from the Attawapiskat Lake into the Attawapiskat River: a southern and a northern channel. The southern channel is named by the Atlas of Canada
as the Attawapiskat River, and is the source location listed in the Infobox at right. The northern channel is named by the Atlas of Canada as the North Channel, and is the more easily navigated route for canoeing. The North Channel outflow from Attawapiskat Lake is at 52°11′35"N 87°28′35"W and consists of two short streams that lead into Windsor Lake. The elevation of the river drops significantly along these two outflow channels, descending from the higher ground of the Canadian Shield
to the flatter and more boggy Hudson Bay Lowlands
. After a series of rapids, the North Channel rejoins the Attawapiskat River (the southern channel) at 52°06′04"N 87°06′07"W at an elevation of 210 metres (689 ft).
The river continues east, and makes a bend to the north at Pym Island at 52°12′20"N 86°19′28"W at an elevation of 174 metres (571 ft). The Streatfeild River
joins from the right at an elevation of 148 metres (486 ft), and the outlet river from McFaulds Lake
, centre of the Northern Ontario Ring of Fire
geological area, joins from the left 17 kilometres (11 mi) further downstream at 52°48′10"N 85°54′45"W at an elevation of 139 metres (456 ft). Further downstream, the river then heads east once again. The Mukutei River joins the Attawapiskat from the left at 53°08′36"N 85°17′38"W at an elevation of 105 metres (344 ft), and the Missisa River joins from the right 28 kilometres (17 mi) further downstream at 53°01′36"N 84°54′02"W at an elevation of 98 metres (322 ft).
At 52°56′32"N 83°10′10"W at an elevation of 30 metres (98 ft) the Lawashi Channel
begins and takes part of the Attawapiskat’s flow into the Lawashi River
at a point 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi) upstream of that river’s mouth at James Bay. The mouth of the Lawashi River is approximately 11 kilometres (7 mi) southeast of the mouth of the Attawapiskat. After the Lawashi Channel branching, the main river continues east, past the community of Attawapiskat
10 kilometres (6 mi) upstream from the mouth, and exits into the James Bay at the Akimiski Strait, across from Akimiski Island
.
islands, nicknamed by canoeists the "Birthday Cakes". The formations are unique to the region, the Swampy Cree (Omushkegowuk)
word for which, chat-a-wa-pis-shkag, gives name to the river.
The Attawapiskat kimberlite field
lies astride the river.
Since June 26, 2008, the De Beers
Victor Diamond Mine
, in the Attawapiskat kimberlite field, has operated near the river about 90 kilometres (56 mi) west of the community of Attawapiskat. The mine was expected to produce 600000 carats (120 kg) of diamonds a year.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in Kenora District
Kenora District, Ontario
Kenora District is a district and census division in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It was created in 1907 from parts of Rainy River District. It is, geographically, the largest division in that province; at 407,192.66 km2 it comprises almost 38 percent of the province's land area...
in northwestern
Northwestern Ontario
Northwestern Ontario is the region within the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north and west of Lake Superior, and west of Hudson Bay and James Bay. It includes most of subarctic Ontario. Its western boundary is the Canadian province of Manitoba, which disputed Ontario's claim to the...
Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, 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...
that flows east from Attawapiskat Lake
Attawapiskat Lake
Attawapiskat Lake is a lake in Kenora District, Ontario, Canada. The primary inflows are the Otoskwin River, the Marten-Drinking River and the Pineimuta River...
to James Bay
James Bay
James Bay is a large body of water on the southern end of Hudson Bay in Canada. Both bodies of water extend from the Arctic Ocean. James Bay borders the provinces of Quebec and Ontario; islands within the bay are part of Nunavut...
.
Course
The Attawapiskat River travels a distance of 748 kilometres (465 mi), and has a drainage area of 50500 square kilometres (19,498 sq mi).The source of the river is Attawapiskat Lake at an elevation of 241 metres (791 ft). The main rivers flowing into the lake that are thus part of the Attawapiskat River drainage basin are the Marten-Drinking River, the Otoskwin River and the Pineimuta River.
There are two outflows from the Attawapiskat Lake into the Attawapiskat River: a southern and a northern channel. The southern channel is named by the Atlas of Canada
Atlas of Canada
The Atlas of Canada is an Internet atlas published by Natural Resources Canada that has information on every city, town, village, and hamlet in Canada...
as the Attawapiskat River, and is the source location listed in the Infobox at right. The northern channel is named by the Atlas of Canada as the North Channel, and is the more easily navigated route for canoeing. The North Channel outflow from Attawapiskat Lake is at 52°11′35"N 87°28′35"W and consists of two short streams that lead into Windsor Lake. The elevation of the river drops significantly along these two outflow channels, descending from the higher ground of the Canadian Shield
Canadian Shield
The Canadian Shield, also called the Laurentian Plateau, or Bouclier Canadien , is a vast geological shield covered by a thin layer of soil that forms the nucleus of the North American or Laurentia craton. It is an area mostly composed of igneous rock which relates to its long volcanic history...
to the flatter and more boggy Hudson Bay Lowlands
Hudson Bay Lowlands
The Hudson Bay Lowlands is a large, poorly drained piece of wetlands wedged between the Canadian Shield and southern shores of Hudson Bay and James Bay. Many wide and slow-moving rivers flow through this area toward the salt water of Hudson Bay. Mosquitoes and black flies thrive here. This is a...
. After a series of rapids, the North Channel rejoins the Attawapiskat River (the southern channel) at 52°06′04"N 87°06′07"W at an elevation of 210 metres (689 ft).
The river continues east, and makes a bend to the north at Pym Island at 52°12′20"N 86°19′28"W at an elevation of 174 metres (571 ft). The Streatfeild River
Streatfeild River
The Streatfeild River is a river in Kenora District, Ontario, Canada. It is a tributary of the Attawapiskat River and its source is Streatfeild Lake. The river lies in the Hudson Bay Lowlands....
joins from the right at an elevation of 148 metres (486 ft), and the outlet river from McFaulds Lake
McFaulds Lake
McFaulds Lake is a lake located in the Unorganized Part of Kenora District in northwestern Ontario, Canada. It is part of the James Bay drainage basin and is in the Hudson Bay Lowlands area...
, centre of the Northern Ontario Ring of Fire
Northern Ontario Ring of Fire
The Ring of Fire is the name given to an area of muskeg swamps in the James Bay Lowlands located in Northern Ontario, Canada, which is currently home to a major mining exploration project...
geological area, joins from the left 17 kilometres (11 mi) further downstream at 52°48′10"N 85°54′45"W at an elevation of 139 metres (456 ft). Further downstream, the river then heads east once again. The Mukutei River joins the Attawapiskat from the left at 53°08′36"N 85°17′38"W at an elevation of 105 metres (344 ft), and the Missisa River joins from the right 28 kilometres (17 mi) further downstream at 53°01′36"N 84°54′02"W at an elevation of 98 metres (322 ft).
At 52°56′32"N 83°10′10"W at an elevation of 30 metres (98 ft) the Lawashi Channel
Lawashi Channel
The Lawashi Channel is a river in Kenora District in northwestern Ontario, Canada.-Course:The river is in the Hudson Bay Lowlands and is part of the James Bay drainage basin. The Lawashi Channel is an outlet from the Attawapiskat River and travels to the Lawashi River, at a point upstream of that...
begins and takes part of the Attawapiskat’s flow into the Lawashi River
Lawashi River
The Lawashi River is a river in Unorganized Kenora District in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. The river is a tributary of James Bay.-Course:For a map showing the river course, see this reference....
at a point 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi) upstream of that river’s mouth at James Bay. The mouth of the Lawashi River is approximately 11 kilometres (7 mi) southeast of the mouth of the Attawapiskat. After the Lawashi Channel branching, the main river continues east, past the community of Attawapiskat
Attawapiskat First Nation
Attawapiskat First Nation is an isolated First Nation located in Kenora District in northern Ontario, Canada, at the mouth of the Attawapiskat River at James Bay...
10 kilometres (6 mi) upstream from the mouth, and exits into the James Bay at the Akimiski Strait, across from Akimiski Island
Akimiski Island
Akimiski Island is the largest island in James Bay , Canada, which is part of the Qikiqtaaluk Region of the territory of Nunavut. It has an area of , making it the 163rd largest island in the world, and Canada's 29th largest island. Akimiski Island is only from the province of Ontario...
.
Geology
Less than 100 kilometres (62 mi) from its mouth, the Attawapiskat has carved out a several clusters of spectacular high limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
islands, nicknamed by canoeists the "Birthday Cakes". The formations are unique to the region, the Swampy Cree (Omushkegowuk)
Swampy Cree language
Swampy Cree is a dialect of the Cree language complex. Swampy Cree is spoken in a series of communities in northern Manitoba, central northeast of Saskatchewan along the Saskatchewan River and along the Hudson Bay coast and adjacent inland areas to the south and west, and Ontario along the coast...
word for which, chat-a-wa-pis-shkag, gives name to the river.
The Attawapiskat kimberlite field
Attawapiskat kimberlite field
The Attawapiskat kimberlite field is a field of diatremes located astride the Attawapiskat River in the Hudson Bay Lowlands, in Northern Ontario, Canada...
lies astride the river.
Economy
Otoskwin/Attawapiskat River Provincial Park includes parts of the river from Attawapiskat Lake to a point just upstream of the confluence with the Muketei River.Since June 26, 2008, the De Beers
De Beers
De Beers is a family of companies that dominate the diamond, diamond mining, diamond trading and industrial diamond manufacturing sectors. De Beers is active in every category of industrial diamond mining: open-pit, underground, large-scale alluvial, coastal and deep sea...
Victor Diamond Mine
Victor Diamond Mine
The Victor Diamond Mine is the first Canadian diamond mine located in Ontario, and De Beers' second diamond mine in Canada . It is located in the James Bay lowlands west of Attawapiskat in the remote northern part of the province...
, in the Attawapiskat kimberlite field, has operated near the river about 90 kilometres (56 mi) west of the community of Attawapiskat. The mine was expected to produce 600000 carats (120 kg) of diamonds a year.
Tributaries
- Missisa River (right)
- Muketei River (left)
- Streatfeild River (right)
- North Channel (left)
- Attawapiskat Lake (source)
- Otoskwin River
- Marten-Drinking River
- Pineimuta River
External links
- River islands formed of ancient reefs, Attawapiskat River, Ontario & Cliff-bound islands, Attawapiskat River, Ontario ("Birthday Cakes" limestone islands), and Mouth of Attawapiskat River, James Bay coast, Ontario. Photos from the Ontario - Hudson Bay Lowlands section of the Canadian Landscapes Photo Collection, Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
- The Canadian Encyclopedia. Attawapiskat River