Moose Factory Island
Encyclopedia
Moose Factory Island is an island in the Moose River
, Ontario, Canada, about 16 kilometres (10 mi) from its mouth at James Bay
. It is adjacent to the community of Moosonee
across the Moose River, from which it is accessible by water taxi
.
The island is home to the community of Moose Factory
. This town is associated with the entire island, but politically, the island is divided into two entities:
Moose Factory Island is part of the poorly drained, sparsly forested Hudson Bay Lowlands
. It is flat and made up of marine clay, underlain by sedimentary rocks, mainly limestone, dolomite and shale. Being situated close to James Bay, Moose Factory Island is affected by the Arctic tides which rise and fall twice daily, varying as much as 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) from high to low tide.
Moose River (Ontario)
The Moose River is a Canadian river in the Hudson Plains ecozone of northern Ontario which flows 100 km northeast from the junction of the Mattagami and Missinaibi Rivers into James Bay. Its drainage basin is 108,500 km² and it has a mean discharge rate of 1370 m³/s. Its full length...
, Ontario, Canada, about 16 kilometres (10 mi) from its mouth at 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...
. It is adjacent to the community of Moosonee
Moosonee, Ontario
Moosonee is a town in northern Ontario, Canada, on the Moose River approximately south of James Bay. It is considered as "the Gateway to the Arctic" and has Ontario's only saltwater port...
across the Moose River, from which it is accessible by water taxi
Water taxi
A water taxi or water bus, also known as a commuter boat, is a watercraft used to provide public transport, usually but not always in an urban environment. Service may be scheduled with multiple stops, operating in a similar manner to a bus, or on demand to many locations, operating in a similar...
.
The island is home to the community of Moose Factory
Moose Factory, Ontario
Moose Factory is a community in the Cochrane District, Ontario, Canada. It is on Moose Factory Island, near the mouth of the Moose River, which is at the southern end of James Bay. It was the first English-speaking settlement in Ontario and the second Hudson's Bay Company post to be set up in North...
. This town is associated with the entire island, but politically, the island is divided into two entities:
- Factory Island 1 - Indian reserveIndian reserveIn Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." The Act also specifies that land reserved for the use and benefit of a band which is not...
that makes up the northern two-thirds of the island, belonging to the Moose Cree First NationMoose Cree First NationThe Moose Cree First Nation is a Cree First Nation in northern Ontario, Canada. Since time immemorial, their traditional territory is on the west side of James Bay...
(population: 1451). - Unorganized Cochrane DistrictCochrane, Unorganized, North Part, OntarioUnorganized Cochrane North Part is an unorganized area in the District of Cochrane in northeastern Ontario, Canada. It comprises all parts of the district north of Timmins and Iroquois Falls which are not part of an incorporated municipality.-Communities:...
- Unincorporated southern third, home to the old Hudson's Bay CompanyHudson's Bay CompanyThe Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
post and government services, governed by the provincial Local Services Board and the federal Weeneebayko Health Ahtuskaywin that administers the hospital (population: 1007).
Moose Factory Island is part of the poorly drained, sparsly forested 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...
. It is flat and made up of marine clay, underlain by sedimentary rocks, mainly limestone, dolomite and shale. Being situated close to James Bay, Moose Factory Island is affected by the Arctic tides which rise and fall twice daily, varying as much as 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) from high to low tide.