Magnetawan River
Encyclopedia
The Magnetawan River is a river
in Parry Sound District, Ontario
, Canada
, which flows 175 km from Magnetawan Lake
inside Algonquin Provincial Park
to empty into Georgian Bay
at the community of Britt
on Byng Inlet.
At the end of the 19th century, the river was used to float white pine
logs
to sawmill
s downstream
. The river gained recent renown when it was featured in Bill Mason
's film Waterwalker
.
The River has numerous rapids, such as, "The Thirty Dollar Rapids", "The Fourteen", "The Ten", the "Potato Rapids", "Poverty Bay Chutes", and "Cody Rapids".
The town of Magnetawan
is located on the river between Lake Cecebe
and Ahmic Lake
. Locks were built here on the river to allow steamboat
s to travel further down the river from the railway
station at Burk's Falls
. The locks officially opened on July 8, 1886 and are still in use today.
The name of the river means "swiftly flowing waters" in the Ojibwa language
.
There is also a Reserve
with the name Magnetawan First Nation
, the same name as the river. The Reserve is situated on the river just east of Byng Inlet.
routes for novice and more experienced canoe tripping. Canadian Canoe Routes lists three Magnetawan River Canoe Routes:
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, 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...
, which flows 175 km from Magnetawan Lake
Magnetawan Lake
Magnetawan Lake is a lake in Nipissing District, Ontario, Canada. Magnetawan Lake is located just within the boundaries of Algonquin Provincial Park. Being located in the park the lake and its surroundings are protected...
inside Algonquin Provincial Park
Algonquin Provincial Park
Algonquin Provincial Park is a provincial park located between Georgian Bay and the Ottawa River in Central Ontario, Canada, mostly within the Unorganized South Part of Nipissing District. Established in 1893, it is the oldest provincial park in Canada. Additions since its creation have increased...
to empty into Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay
Georgian Bay is a large bay of Lake Huron, located entirely within Ontario, Canada...
at the community of Britt
Britt, Ontario
Britt is a community in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in the unincorporated township of Wallbridge in the Parry Sound District.The community is located on the north shore of the Magnetawan River at Byng Inlet, approximately 5 kilometres west of Highway 69, at the end of Highway 526.Like...
on Byng Inlet.
At the end of the 19th century, the river was used to float white pine
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus, commonly known as the eastern white pine, is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the northern edge of Georgia.It is occasionally known as simply white pine,...
logs
Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
to sawmill
Sawmill
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....
s downstream
Downstream
-Science:* In geography, away from the source of a stream or river* In meteorology, away from the source of an air parcel or mass, along the normal direction of water or air flow* Downstream , in computer or telecommunications networks...
. The river gained recent renown when it was featured in Bill Mason
Bill Mason
Bill Mason was an award-winning Canadian naturalist, author, artist, filmmaker, and conservationist, noted primarily for his popular canoeing books, films, and art as well as his documentaries on wolves. Mason was also known for including passages from Christian sermons in his films...
's film Waterwalker
Waterwalker
Waterwalker is a 1984 documentary film by Bill Mason, a Canadian outdoorsman, painter, canoeist and environmentalist, who made many films on the art of canoeing and on the appreciation of nature...
.
The River has numerous rapids, such as, "The Thirty Dollar Rapids", "The Fourteen", "The Ten", the "Potato Rapids", "Poverty Bay Chutes", and "Cody Rapids".
The town of Magnetawan
Magnetawan, Ontario
Magnetawan is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, as well as the name of a community within the former Township of Chapman.Located in the Parry Sound District, the township had a population of 1,610 in the 2006 Canadian census....
is located on the river between Lake Cecebe
Lake Cecebe
Lake Cecebe is a lake in Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada. Lake Cecebe is part of the Magnetawan River waterway. The lake has over 20 miles of shoreline...
and Ahmic Lake
Ahmic Lake
Ahmic Lake is part of the Magnetawan River waterway in Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada. It is well marked for navigation. There are many spots where rock shoals extend into the lake then plunge to depths of 20 to 25 m . Much of the lake has steep shorelines with overhanging dead wood and...
. Locks were built here on the river to allow steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
s to travel further down the river from the railway
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
station at Burk's Falls
Burk's Falls, Ontario
Burk's Falls is a village in the Parry Sound District, Ontario, Canada, located 165 miles north of Toronto and 55 miles south of North Bay, Ontario...
. The locks officially opened on July 8, 1886 and are still in use today.
The name of the river means "swiftly flowing waters" in the Ojibwa language
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...
.
There is also a Reserve
Indian reserve
In 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...
with the name Magnetawan First Nation
Magnetawan First Nation
The Magnetawan First Nation is an Ojibway First Nation in Canada. Their territory is located on the Magnetawan 1 Indian reserve in Ontario. The Nation is led by Chief .-References:...
, the same name as the river. The Reserve is situated on the river just east of Byng Inlet.
Canoe routes
The Magnetawan River also provides great canoeCanoe
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...
routes for novice and more experienced canoe tripping. Canadian Canoe Routes lists three Magnetawan River Canoe Routes: