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Madawaska River (Ontario)
Encyclopedia
The Madawaska River is a river
in Ontario
, Canada
. The river is 230 km (143 mi) long and drains an area of 8470 km² (3,270 sq mi). It originates at Source Lake
in the highlands of Algonquin Park at an elevation of 450 m (1,476 ft) and flows east, dropping 380 m (1,247 ft) before emptying into the Ottawa River
at Arnprior
.
The river's name comes from an Algonquian
band of the region known as "Matouweskarini", meaning "people of the shallows". In the late 19th century, the river was used to transport lumber from the forested areas surrounding the river. Beginning in the 1960s, the river was used to generate hydroelectric
power. Undammed sections of the river are also used for canoe
ing, kayak
ing and recreational fishing.
(Yellow Pickerel), Northern Pike
, Muskellunge
, Smallmouth Bass
, and Large Mouth Bass.
Both parks are administered by Ontario Parks
but are non-operating, meaning there are no visitor facilities or services available. Both are ideal for whitewater canoeing
.
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 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...
. The river is 230 km (143 mi) long and drains an area of 8470 km² (3,270 sq mi). It originates at Source Lake
Source Lake (Ontario)
Source Lake is a small lake in Algonquin Park in Ontario, Canada. It is the source of the Madawaska River, which empties into the Ottawa River.Camp Pathfinder, a boys' summer camp, is located on Source Lake.-Sources:* retrieved 2007-11-02...
in the highlands of Algonquin Park at an elevation of 450 m (1,476 ft) and flows east, dropping 380 m (1,247 ft) before emptying into the Ottawa River
Ottawa River
The Ottawa River is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it now defines the border between these two provinces.-Geography:...
at Arnprior
Arnprior, Ontario
Arnprior is a town in Renfrew County, in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada. It is located at the mouth of the Madawaska River, as it enters the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley...
.
The river's name comes from an Algonquian
Algonquian peoples
The Algonquian are one of the most populous and widespread North American native language groups, with tribes originally numbering in the hundreds. Today hundreds of thousands of individuals identify with various Algonquian peoples...
band of the region known as "Matouweskarini", meaning "people of the shallows". In the late 19th century, the river was used to transport lumber from the forested areas surrounding the river. Beginning in the 1960s, the river was used to generate hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
power. Undammed sections of the river are also used for canoe
Canoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
ing, kayak
Kayak
A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...
ing and recreational fishing.
Lakes and reservoirs
The lower portion of the Madawaska River supports several large lakes, including:- Centennial Lake
- Black Donald LakeBlack Donald LakeBlack Donald Lake is a reservoir lake in the Township of Greater Madawaska, Renfrew County and the Township of North Frontenac, Frontenac County in Eastern Ontario, Canada...
- Calabogie Lake
- Madawaska ReservoirLake MadawaskaMadawaska Lake is a lake covering some 168 km² located in Haliburton County, Ontario, within the boundaries of Algonquin Provincial Park. The only piece of private land on the lake is owned by the Salvation Army....
Fauna
Most common species of game fish found in this river include: WalleyeWalleye
Walleye is a freshwater perciform fish native to most of Canada and to the northern United States. It is a North American close relative of the European pikeperch...
(Yellow Pickerel), Northern Pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
, Muskellunge
Muskellunge
A muskellunge , also known as a muskelunge, muscallonge, milliganong, or maskinonge , is a large, relatively uncommon freshwater fish of North America. Muskellunge are the largest member of the pike family, Esocidae...
, Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth bass
The smallmouth bass is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of the order Perciformes. It is the type species of its genus...
, and Large Mouth Bass.
Provincial Parks
Two sections of the river are designated and protected as provincial waterway parks:- Upper Madawaska River Provincial ParkUpper Madawaska River Provincial ParkUpper Madawaska River Provincial Park is a waterway-class provincial park on the Madawaska River in Nipissing District, Ontario, Canada. The park consists of a strip of land along both shores of the Madawaska River from Whitney to Madawaska, both communities in South Algonquin Township...
, between Whitney and Madawaska; 10.85 km² (4.19 sq mi). - Lower Madawaska River Provincial ParkLower Madawaska River Provincial ParkLower Madawaska River Provincial Park is a waterway-class provincial park on the Madawaska River in Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada. The park includes the shores on both sides of the Madawaska River from Latchford Bridge to Griffith....
, between Latchford Bridge and Griffith; 12 km² (5 sq mi).
Both parks are administered by Ontario Parks
Ontario Parks
Ontario Parks is the branch of the Ministry of Natural Resources that administers the provincial parks in Ontario, Canada. The Ontario Parks system covers over 78,000 square kilometres , about 10 percent of the province's surface area or the equivalent of an area approximately equal to Nova Scotia...
but are non-operating, meaning there are no visitor facilities or services available. Both are ideal for whitewater canoeing
Whitewater canoeing
Whitewater canoeing is the sport of paddling a canoe on a moving body of water, typically a whitewater river. Whitewater canoeing can range from simple, carefree gently moving water, to demanding, dangerous whitewater. River rapids are graded like ski runs according to the difficulty, danger or...
.
See also
- Bonnechere RiverBonnechere RiverThe Bonnechere River is a river in the Saint Lawrence River drainage basin in Nipissing District and Renfrew County in eastern and northeastern Ontario, Canada. The river flows from Algonquin Provincial Park to the Ottawa River east and north of the town of Renfrew...
- nearby river with similar characteristics - List of Ontario rivers