Ekwan River
Encyclopedia
The Ekwan River is a river in Kenora District
in northwestern
Ontario
, Canada
. It travels about 500 kilometres (311 mi) from its source at Zumar Lake on the Canadian Shield
, through the Hudson Bay Lowlands
, northeast and then east, to its mouth on James Bay
.
lies between and is enveloped by the larger ones of neighbouring rivers, the Winisk River
on the north and the Attawapiskat River
on the south. The source of the river is Zumar Lake
at an elevation of 239 metres (784 ft), just 8 kilometres (5 mi) northeast of part of the North Channel outlet from Attawapiskat Lake
, the source of the Attawapiskat River. It travels northeast over a series of rapids and falls, taking in various small tributaries, to a confluence point at 53°10′43"N 86°13′30"W at an elevation of 134 metres (440 ft), where an unnamed tributary, which begins at a point 52°55′58"N 86°14′06"W within 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) of the Attawapiskat River, joins from the right.
The river continues northeast to take in the North Washagami River from the left at an elevation of 81 metres (266 ft) then on to its point furthest north at 53°50′17"N 84°47′15"W, before turning southeast for 50 kilometres (31 mi). Then, within 5 kilometres (3 mi), three named tributaries join: the Matateto River from the right; the Crooked River from the right; and the Little Ekwan River from the left. They join at an elevation of about 70 metres (230 ft). The Ekwan River continues east southeast for 160 kilometres (99 mi), passing over the Flint Rapids at 53°29′41"N 83°39′32"W at an elevation of 63 metres (207 ft), before reaching its mouth at sea level at the Akimiski Strait on James Bay, across from the western tip of Akimiski Island
, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) north of the mouth of the Attawapiskat River.
Discharge measurements taken for 28 years to 1995 below the confluence point of the North Washagami River at a point near 53.80°N 84.92°W showed a high mean monthly discharge of 328.321 cubic metres (11,594.547 cu ft) per second in May and a low of 6.179 cubic metres (218.209 cu ft) per second in March.
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...
. It travels about 500 kilometres (311 mi) from its source at Zumar Lake on 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...
, through the 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...
, northeast and then east, to its mouth on 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 Ekwan drainage basinDrainage 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...
lies between and is enveloped by the larger ones of neighbouring rivers, the Winisk River
Winisk River
The Winisk River is a river in northern Ontario, Canada, that starts at Wunnummin Lake and flows east to Winisk Lake. From there it continues in a mostly northly direction to Hudson Bay. The Winisk River is 475 km long and has a drainage basin of . The name is from Cree origin meaning...
on the north and the Attawapiskat River
Attawapiskat River
The Attawapiskat River is a river in Kenora District in northwestern Ontario, Canada that flows east from Attawapiskat Lake to James Bay.-Course:The Attawapiskat River travels a distance of , and has a drainage area of ....
on the south. The source of the river is Zumar Lake
Zumar Lake
Zumar Lake is a lake in Kenora District, Ontario, Canada, and the source of the Ekwan River, which flows into James Bay. It is about long and wide, and lies at an elevation of . The lake is just northeast of part of the North Channel outlet from Attawapiskat Lake, the source of the Attawapiskat...
at an elevation of 239 metres (784 ft), just 8 kilometres (5 mi) northeast of part of the North Channel outlet 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...
, the source of the Attawapiskat River. It travels northeast over a series of rapids and falls, taking in various small tributaries, to a confluence point at 53°10′43"N 86°13′30"W at an elevation of 134 metres (440 ft), where an unnamed tributary, which begins at a point 52°55′58"N 86°14′06"W within 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) of the Attawapiskat River, joins from the right.
The river continues northeast to take in the North Washagami River from the left at an elevation of 81 metres (266 ft) then on to its point furthest north at 53°50′17"N 84°47′15"W, before turning southeast for 50 kilometres (31 mi). Then, within 5 kilometres (3 mi), three named tributaries join: the Matateto River from the right; the Crooked River from the right; and the Little Ekwan River from the left. They join at an elevation of about 70 metres (230 ft). The Ekwan River continues east southeast for 160 kilometres (99 mi), passing over the Flint Rapids at 53°29′41"N 83°39′32"W at an elevation of 63 metres (207 ft), before reaching its mouth at sea level at the Akimiski Strait on James Bay, across from the western tip of 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...
, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) north of the mouth of the Attawapiskat River.
Discharge measurements taken for 28 years to 1995 below the confluence point of the North Washagami River at a point near 53.80°N 84.92°W showed a high mean monthly discharge of 328.321 cubic metres (11,594.547 cu ft) per second in May and a low of 6.179 cubic metres (218.209 cu ft) per second in March.
Tributaries
- Little Ekwan River (left)
- Crooked River (right)
- Matateto River (right)
- North Washagami River (left)