Seguin River
Encyclopedia
The Seguin River is a river
in Parry Sound District in central Ontario
, Canada
that empties into Parry Sound
on Georgian Bay
, Lake Huron
at the town of Parry Sound
. The river's name comes from the Ojibwe
word ziigwan, meaning "spring".
. It passes north under Ontario Highway 518, then turns southwest and enters the township of Seguin
, flows through Upper Fry Lake and Lower Fry Lake and passes north over a series of waterfalls near the community of Seguin Falls, at which point it is crossed by the former path of the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway
, now the recreational Seguin Trail rail trail
. The river turns again southwest into Isabella Lake where it takes in the left tributary Little Seguin River. It continues southwest over the Serpent Rapids, the Indian Rapids and the Hab Rapids, passes into the township of McDougall
, and takes in the right tributary Manitouwabing River. The Seguin continues through Mountain Chute to reach Mill Lake in the town of Parry Sound, where it takes in the left tributary Haines Creek, heads under Ontario Highway 400 then over Mill Lake Dam, and takes in the right tributary Darlington's Creek. It then flows under a low bridge carrying the Canadian National Railway
main line
, over the Cascade Street Dam and Cascade Street Generating Station, over the Trestle Dam, under the high Parry Sound CPR Trestle
that carries the Canadian Pacific Railway
, and reaches its mouth at Parry Sound.
In addition to the already named towns, townships and municipalities in Parry Sound District, portions of the Seguin River drainage basin
lie in the township McKellar
, Parry Sound District, and less than 1% lies in the geographic township of Cardwell, part of the township of Muskoka Lakes
in Muskoka District.
built at the mouth of the river in 1857 was one of the first industries in the area, and which later led to the founding of the town of Parry Sound. The river was also used to float down the logs cut in the forests upstream. Ice hockey
legend Bobby Orr
learned to skate on the frozen river.
bedrock outcrop
ping landscapes.
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 Parry Sound District in central 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 empties into Parry Sound
Parry Sound
Parry Sound is a sound or bay of Georgian Bay, in Ontario, Canada. It is highly irregularly shaped with many deep bays and islands. Killbear Provincial Park is located on the large peninsula that separates the sound from Georgian Bay, while it is bordered on the south side by Parry Island, home of...
on Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay is a large bay of Lake Huron, located entirely within Ontario, Canada...
, 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 the town of Parry Sound
Parry Sound, Ontario
Parry Sound is a town in Central Ontario, Canada, located on Parry Sound on the eastern shore of Georgian Bay. Parry Sound is located south of Sudbury and north of Toronto. It is the seat of Parry Sound District, a popular cottage country region for Southern Ontario residents. It is also the...
. The river's name comes from the Ojibwe
Ojibwe 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...
word ziigwan, meaning "spring".
Course
The Seguin River begins at Bear Lake near the community of Bear Lake in the municipality of McMurrich/MonteithMcMurrich/Monteith, Ontario
McMurrich/Monteith is a municipality and census subdivision in Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada.The municipality was formed in 1998 through an amalgamation of the former Township of McMurrich and the eastern two-thirds of the unincorporated Township of Monteith...
. It passes north under Ontario Highway 518, then turns southwest and enters the township of Seguin
Seguin, Ontario
Seguin is a township in central Ontario, Canada, in the District of Parry Sound. The township was incorporated on January 1, 1998, by amalgamating the former townships of Humphrey, Foley, Christie, and the western half of Monteith with the village of Rosseau....
, flows through Upper Fry Lake and Lower Fry Lake and passes north over a series of waterfalls near the community of Seguin Falls, at which point it is crossed by the former path of the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway
Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway
The Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway is a historic Canadian railway that operated in central and eastern Ontario from 1897 until 1959.It was a common carrier railway, although it was primarily used to transport timber from logging operations as well as haul cargo from western Canada via the...
, now the recreational Seguin Trail rail trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
. The river turns again southwest into Isabella Lake where it takes in the left tributary Little Seguin River. It continues southwest over the Serpent Rapids, the Indian Rapids and the Hab Rapids, passes into the township of McDougall
McDougall, Ontario
McDougall is a township in central Ontario, Canada, on the Parry Sound in the District of Parry Sound. It was named after William McDougall, one of the Fathers of Confederation....
, and takes in the right tributary Manitouwabing River. The Seguin continues through Mountain Chute to reach Mill Lake in the town of Parry Sound, where it takes in the left tributary Haines Creek, heads under Ontario Highway 400 then over Mill Lake Dam, and takes in the right tributary Darlington's Creek. It then flows under a low bridge carrying the Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
main line
Main line (railway)
The Mainline or Main line of a railway is a track that is used for through trains or is the principal artery of the system from which branch lines, yards, sidings and spurs are connected....
, over the Cascade Street Dam and Cascade Street Generating Station, over the Trestle Dam, under the high Parry Sound CPR Trestle
Parry Sound CPR Trestle
The Parry Sound CPR Trestle crosses the valley of the Seguin River, just upstream of the river's mouth at Parry Sound on Georgian Bay, as well as Great North Road, Bay, and Gibson streets in the town of Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada....
that carries the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
, and reaches its mouth at Parry Sound.
In addition to the already named towns, townships and municipalities in Parry Sound District, portions of the Seguin River drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
lie in the township McKellar
McKellar, Ontario
McKellar is a township and census subdivision in Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada. Per the 2001 Census, it has a population of 933.McKellar is named for Archibald McKellar , a member of the legislative assemblies for the province of Canada and Ontario .-Communities:McKellar is also the...
, Parry Sound District, and less than 1% lies in the geographic township of Cardwell, part of the township of Muskoka Lakes
Muskoka Lakes
The Township of Muskoka Lakes is an area municipality of the District Municipality of Muskoka, Ontario. It has a year-round population of 6,467 and a summer population of 34,000.-History and government:...
in Muskoka District.
History
A sawmillSawmill
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....
built at the mouth of the river in 1857 was one of the first industries in the area, and which later led to the founding of the town of Parry Sound. The river was also used to float down the logs cut in the forests upstream. Ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
legend Bobby Orr
Bobby Orr
Robert Gordon "Bobby" Orr, OC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Orr played in the National Hockey League for his entire career, the first ten seasons with the Boston Bruins, joining the Chicago Black Hawks for two more. Orr is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest...
learned to skate on the frozen river.
Natural history
The 275 hectares (679.5 acre) Seguin River Conservation Reserve is located on the river at the mouth of the Manitouwabing River. It protects upland forest, steep cliff and metavolcanicMetavolcanic rock
In geology, metavolcanic rock is a type of metamorphic rock. Such a rock was first produced by a volcano, either as lava or tephra. Then, the rock was buried underneath subsequent rock and was subjected to high pressures and temperatures, causing the rock to recrystallize...
bedrock outcrop
Outcrop
An outcrop is a visible exposure of bedrock or ancient superficial deposits on the surface of the Earth. -Features:Outcrops do not cover the majority of the Earth's land surface because in most places the bedrock or superficial deposits are covered by a mantle of soil and vegetation and cannot be...
ping landscapes.
Tributaries
- Darlington's Creek (right)
- Haines Creek (left)
- Manitoubwabing River (right)
- Little Seguin River (left)