Mississagi River
Encyclopedia
The Mississagi River is a river
in Algoma
and Sudbury
Districts, Ontario
, Canada
, that originates in Sudbury District and flows 266 kilometres (165 mi) to Lake Huron
at Blind River
, Algoma District.
misi-zaagi, "river with a wide mouth".
The river then turns south and heads to Kettle Lake, the furthest point east it reaches, before continuing south and entering Mississagi River Provincial Park
at Upper Bark Lake at an elevation of 446 metres (1,463 ft). The river then continues south and crosses back into Algoma District, where it remains for the rest of its journey to Lake Huron, and enters the large "L"-shaped Bark Lake. It then heads west through Hellgate Rapids, takes in its right tributary the Abinette River at an elevation of 411 metres (1,348 ft), splits into two channels to form an island at 46°56′22"N 82°48′05"W, recombines at 46°55′55"N 82°48′52"W, and enters the large Rocky Island Lake at an elevation of 410 metres (1,345 ft), where the right tributary Cypress River enters. The Mississagi River then flows into Aubrey Lake, partially formed by the Aubrey Falls Generating Station (hydro) and dam, and where the Wenebegon Rivers joins. Not all the water is funnelled into the station, however; some continues to form the Aubrey Falls.
The river turns south and the right tributary Aubinadong River enters, followed by two left tributaries, the Sharpsand River and the Rapid River in quick succession, and further on, another left tributary, Snowshoe Creek from Wakomata Lake. Then it reaches Tunnel Lake, formed by the George W Rayner Generating Station and Wells Generating Station and associated dams. The river then heads southeast where the left tributary Little White River enters, and continues to Red Rock Lake, created by the Red Rock Falls Generating Station and dam, over the Shino Rapids, takes in the right tributary Bolton River
, then reaches Lake Huron.
The river's delta
is a "bird's foot" delta, a type not commonly found on the Great Lakes. The Mississippi River
in Louisiana
has a bird's foot delta.
people used the river to travel between the forests of the interior and Lake Huron. In 1799, the North West Company
built a fur trading
post at the mouth of the river. This post was closed in 1900. During the second half of the 19th century, the river was used to transport logs to sawmill
s at Blind River.
constructed dams and four hydroelectric generating stations on the Mississagi River, Rayner G.S., Wells G.S., Red Rock Falls G.S., and Aubrey Falls G.S. between 1950 and 1970, which today are operated by Brookfield Asset Management
. Historically, mining and forestry played a large role, but today tourism is the primary activity along the river.
Highway 129
follows the river from Wharncliffe until the river turns east at Aubrey Falls.
.
Aubrey Falls Provincial Park is on the river at Aubrey Falls. Mississagi River Provincial Park encompasses the upper reaches of the river including Mississagi Lake. Mississagi Provincial Park
is on the Boland River, a tributary of the Little White River. Mississagi Delta Provincial Nature Reserve Park encompasses the river's delta mouth. The Voyageur Hiking Trail
follows the lower portion of the river near Iron Bridge.
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 Algoma
Algoma District, Ontario
Algoma District is a district and census division in Northeastern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1858 comprising territory as far west as Minnesota...
and Sudbury
Sudbury District, Ontario
The Sudbury District is a district in Northeastern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1894 from townships of eastern Algoma District and west Nipissing District....
Districts, 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 originates in Sudbury District and flows 266 kilometres (165 mi) to Lake Huron
Lake Huron
Lake Huron is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. Hydrologically, it comprises the larger portion of Lake Michigan-Huron. It is bounded on the east by the Canadian province of Ontario and on the west by the state of Michigan in the United States...
at Blind River
Blind River, Ontario
Population trend:* Population in 2006: 3780* Population in 2001: 3969* Population in 1996: 3152 * Population in 1991: 3355-Economy:Its main businesses are tourism, fishing, logging, and uranium refining....
, Algoma District.
Etymology
The river's name comes from the OjibweOjibwe language
Ojibwe , also called Anishinaabemowin, is an indigenous language of the Algonquian language family. Ojibwe is characterized by a series of dialects that have local names and frequently local writing systems...
misi-zaagi, "river with a wide mouth".
Hydrology
The Mississagi River begins in a small unnamed lake in Sudbury District and flows south 8 kilometres (5 mi) from that point to the border of Algoma District, then southeast through a nort-east corner of the district, before returning once again to Sudbury District at White Owl Lake, from which it flows into Mississagi Lake at an elevation of 457 metres (1,499 ft).The river then turns south and heads to Kettle Lake, the furthest point east it reaches, before continuing south and entering Mississagi River Provincial Park
Mississagi River Provincial Park
Mississagi River Provincial Park is a protected area on the Mississagi River in Algoma and Sudbury Districts, Ontario, Canada. It has an Ontario Parks designation of Waterway Class. The park encompasses the river and lakes on the river from Mississagi Lake to Bark Lake, and further downstream to a...
at Upper Bark Lake at an elevation of 446 metres (1,463 ft). The river then continues south and crosses back into Algoma District, where it remains for the rest of its journey to Lake Huron, and enters the large "L"-shaped Bark Lake. It then heads west through Hellgate Rapids, takes in its right tributary the Abinette River at an elevation of 411 metres (1,348 ft), splits into two channels to form an island at 46°56′22"N 82°48′05"W, recombines at 46°55′55"N 82°48′52"W, and enters the large Rocky Island Lake at an elevation of 410 metres (1,345 ft), where the right tributary Cypress River enters. The Mississagi River then flows into Aubrey Lake, partially formed by the Aubrey Falls Generating Station (hydro) and dam, and where the Wenebegon Rivers joins. Not all the water is funnelled into the station, however; some continues to form the Aubrey Falls.
The river turns south and the right tributary Aubinadong River enters, followed by two left tributaries, the Sharpsand River and the Rapid River in quick succession, and further on, another left tributary, Snowshoe Creek from Wakomata Lake. Then it reaches Tunnel Lake, formed by the George W Rayner Generating Station and Wells Generating Station and associated dams. The river then heads southeast where the left tributary Little White River enters, and continues to Red Rock Lake, created by the Red Rock Falls Generating Station and dam, over the Shino Rapids, takes in the right tributary Bolton River
Bolton River (Ontario)
The Bolton River is a river near the community of Iron Bridge in Huron Shores, Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is long and begins at Bright Lake at an elevation of . It takes in an unnamed creek from Dean lake at at an elevation of , and empties into the Mississagi River at an elevation of ....
, then reaches Lake Huron.
The river's delta
River delta
A delta is a landform that is formed at the mouth of a river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir, flat arid area, or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river...
is a "bird's foot" delta, a type not commonly found on the Great Lakes. The Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
has a bird's foot delta.
History
The OjibwaOjibwa
The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
people used the river to travel between the forests of the interior and Lake Huron. In 1799, the North West Company
North West Company
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada...
built a fur trading
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
post at the mouth of the river. This post was closed in 1900. During the second half of the 19th century, the river was used to transport logs to sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s at Blind River.
Economy
Ontario HydroOntario Hydro
Ontario Hydro was the official name from 1974 of the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario which was established in 1906 by the provincial Power Commission Act to build transmission lines to supply municipal utilities with electricity generated by private companies already operating at Niagara...
constructed dams and four hydroelectric generating stations on the Mississagi River, Rayner G.S., Wells G.S., Red Rock Falls G.S., and Aubrey Falls G.S. between 1950 and 1970, which today are operated by Brookfield Asset Management
Brookfield Asset Management
Brookfield Asset Management Inc. is a Toronto, Ontario-based asset management company that manages a global portfolio of assets valued at over $150 billion...
. Historically, mining and forestry played a large role, but today tourism is the primary activity along the river.
Highway 129
Highway 129 (Ontario)
King's Highway 129, commonly referred to as Highway 129, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Located in the Algoma and Sudbury districts, the highway extends for from a junction with Highway 17 in Thessalon to the town of Chapleau, just north of Highway 101...
follows the river from Wharncliffe until the river turns east at Aubrey Falls.
Ecology
The lower river is an important spawning ground for lake sturgeonSturgeon
Sturgeon is the common name used for some 26 species of fish in the family Acipenseridae, including the genera Acipenser, Huso, Scaphirhynchus and Pseudoscaphirhynchus. The term includes over 20 species commonly referred to as sturgeon and several closely related species that have distinct common...
.
Aubrey Falls Provincial Park is on the river at Aubrey Falls. Mississagi River Provincial Park encompasses the upper reaches of the river including Mississagi Lake. Mississagi Provincial Park
Mississagi Provincial Park
Mississagi Provincial Park is a natural environment-class park north of Elliot Lake, in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It lies on the Boland River, a tributary of the Little White River, which is a tributary of the Mississagi River. The park is accessed via Highway 639.-External links:*...
is on the Boland River, a tributary of the Little White River. Mississagi Delta Provincial Nature Reserve Park encompasses the river's delta mouth. The Voyageur Hiking Trail
Voyageur Hiking Trail
The Voyageur Hiking Trail is a public hiking trail between Sudbury and Thunder Bay in Northern Ontario, Canada. The name honours the early European fur traders of the region who traveled largely by canoe and were known as 'voyageurs’ and ‘coureurs des bois’ The trail is used by all ages and levels...
follows the lower portion of the river near Iron Bridge.
Tributaries
- Abinette River
- Cypress River
- Wenebegon River
- Aubinadong River
- Sharpsand River
- Rapid River
- Little White River
- Bolton RiverBolton River (Ontario)The Bolton River is a river near the community of Iron Bridge in Huron Shores, Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is long and begins at Bright Lake at an elevation of . It takes in an unnamed creek from Dean lake at at an elevation of , and empties into the Mississagi River at an elevation of ....