Batchawana Bay
Encyclopedia
Batchawana Bay is a small bay
on the eastern shore of Lake Superior
, approximately 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
, Canada.
Batchawana Bay was termed Badjiwanung by the Ojibwe, referring to water that bubbles up. This occurs between Batchawana Island and Sand Point, where the lake narrows and a strong current and undertow results. The Ojibwe believed this was caused by an underwater spirit about to surface.
Batchawana Bay was an important fishing site for the Ojibwe, and later for the North West Company
. The Hudson's Bay Company
kept an outpost and fishing station at the mouth of the Batchawana River
, which flows into the bay. In the early 1920s, the largest fish ever recorded in the Great Lakes
was caught by Frank Lapoint in the bay. A sturgeon
, it was reportedly 90 years old, measured 2.25 m (7.5 ft) and weighed 140 kg (310 lb).
The bay is formed on the north side by the Whitefish Point on the Canadian side of Lake Superior
and divided from the Haviland and Harmony Bays by Batchawana Island. Batchawana Island and Whitefish Point are both of which are important routes and stopovers for migratory birds. Batchawana island was also reputedly the site of Spirit houses (elevated graves) of the Ojibwe.
The bay was historically notable as the dividing point separating the two Robinson Treaty
areas between the Crown and the Ojibwe people.
Batchawana Bay Provincial Park
is located on the western shore of the bay, as is the community of Batchawana Bay
. The community is on Highway 563.
Nearby Batchawana Mountain (47°04′1.2"N 84°24′0.0"W) is the fourth highest point in Ontario at 653 metres (2,142 ft).
Bay
A bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
on the eastern shore of Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
, approximately 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie is a city on the St. Marys River in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay, with a population of 74,948. The community was founded as a French religious mission: Sault either means "jump" or "rapids" in...
, Canada.
Batchawana Bay was termed Badjiwanung by the Ojibwe, referring to water that bubbles up. This occurs between Batchawana Island and Sand Point, where the lake narrows and a strong current and undertow results. The Ojibwe believed this was caused by an underwater spirit about to surface.
Batchawana Bay was an important fishing site for the Ojibwe, and later for 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...
. The Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The 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...
kept an outpost and fishing station at the mouth of the Batchawana River
Batchawana River
The Batchawana River is a river in Algoma and Sudbury Districts of Ontario, Canada, which empties into Batchawana Bay on Lake Superior north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The name "Batchawana" is derived from an Ojibwe word meaning "turbulent waters"....
, which flows into the bay. In the early 1920s, the largest fish ever recorded in the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
was caught by Frank Lapoint in the bay. A sturgeon
Sturgeon
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...
, it was reportedly 90 years old, measured 2.25 m (7.5 ft) and weighed 140 kg (310 lb).
The bay is formed on the north side by the Whitefish Point on the Canadian side of Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
and divided from the Haviland and Harmony Bays by Batchawana Island. Batchawana Island and Whitefish Point are both of which are important routes and stopovers for migratory birds. Batchawana island was also reputedly the site of Spirit houses (elevated graves) of the Ojibwe.
The bay was historically notable as the dividing point separating the two Robinson Treaty
Robinson Treaty
Robinson Treaty may refer to one of three treaties signed between the Ojibwa chiefs and The Crown.-Lake Superior:The Robinson Treaty for the Lake Superior region, commonly called Robinson Superior Treaty, was entered into agreement on September 7, 1850, at Sault Ste...
areas between the Crown and the Ojibwe people.
Batchawana Bay Provincial Park
Batchawana Bay Provincial Park
Batchawana Bay Provincial Park is a park in Ontario, Canada, located from Sault Ste. Marie on Batchawana Bay off Lake Superior. It is a day-park , and is operated by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Although located on an official Indian reserve, all are welcome to attend.It is known for...
is located on the western shore of the bay, as is the community of Batchawana Bay
Batchawana Bay, Ontario
Batchawana Bay is a community with a local services board in the Canadian province of Ontario, consisting of parts of the unincorporated townships of Ryan, Herrick, Tilley and Fisher in the Algoma District. It is located north of Sault Ste...
. The community is on Highway 563.
Nearby Batchawana Mountain (47°04′1.2"N 84°24′0.0"W) is the fourth highest point in Ontario at 653 metres (2,142 ft).