Severn River (northern Ontario)
Encyclopedia
The Severn River is a river in northern Ontario
. The northern Ontario river has its headwaters near the western border of the province. From the head of the Black Birch River, the Severn River is 982 km (610.2 mi) long and its drainage basin is 102,800 km² (39,700 mile²) , a small portion of which is in Manitoba
. Its source is Deer Lake and flows northeasterly into Severn Lake, then by a second section to Hudson Bay
where it ends at Fort Severn
.
The First Nation communities of Sandy Lake
, Bearskin Lake
, and Fort Severn are located along the river. These were formed at the sites of former trading post
s built when the Severn River was a prominent river during the fur trade
era.
Located at the mouth of the river, Fort Severn was established as a trading post in 1689 by the Hudson's Bay Company
. It was captured by Pierre le Moyne, sieur d'Iberville
in 1690. The post, rebuilt in 1759, has been in continuous operation to this day making this community one of the oldest European settlements in Ontario.
At its source on Deer Lake is the small community of Deer Lake, 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....
. The northern Ontario river has its headwaters near the western border of the province. From the head of the Black Birch River, the Severn River is 982 km (610.2 mi) long and its drainage basin is 102,800 km² (39,700 mile²) , a small portion of which is in Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. Its source is Deer Lake and flows northeasterly into Severn Lake, then by a second section to Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay , sometimes called Hudson's Bay, is a large body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area, about , that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,...
where it ends at Fort Severn
Fort Severn, Ontario
Fort Severn First Nation is located on Hudson Bay and is the most northern community in Ontario, Canada.As of 2001, the population was 401, consisting of 90 families in an area of 40 square kilometres...
.
The First Nation communities of Sandy Lake
Sandy Lake First Nation
Sandy Lake First Nation is an independent Oji-Cree First Nation. The First Nation community, in the west part of Northern Ontario, is located in the Kenora District, northeast of Red Lake, Ontario. Its registered population in June 2007 was 2,474...
, Bearskin Lake
Bearskin Lake First Nation
Bearskin Lake First Nation is an Oji-Cree First Nation in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in the Kenora District 425 kilometres north of Sioux Lookout. Bearskin First Nation's total registered population in September, 2007, was 831, of which their on-reserve population was 423.Three...
, and Fort Severn are located along the river. These were formed at the sites of former trading post
Trading post
A trading post was a place or establishment in historic Northern America where the trading of goods took place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, was known as a trade route....
s built when the Severn River was a prominent river during the fur trade
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
era.
Located at the mouth of the river, Fort Severn was established as a trading post in 1689 by 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...
. It was captured by Pierre le Moyne, sieur d'Iberville
Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville
Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville pronounced as described in note] Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville pronounced as described in note] Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville pronounced as described in note] (16 July 1661 – 9 July 1702 (probable)was a soldier, ship captain, explorer, colonial administrator, knight of...
in 1690. The post, rebuilt in 1759, has been in continuous operation to this day making this community one of the oldest European settlements in Ontario.
At its source on Deer Lake is the small community of Deer Lake, Ontario.
Tributaries
Tributaries of the northern Severn River include:- McInness River
- Cobham River (source in Manitoba)
- Windigo River
- Makoop River
- Blackbear River
- Sachigo RiverSachigo RiverThe Sachigo River is a river in the Hudson Bay drainage basin in Kenora District in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It is a tributary of the Severn River.-Course:...
- Wapaseese River
- Beaver Stone River
- Fawn RiverFawn River (Ontario)The Fawn River is a river in northwestern Ontario that joins the Severn River to eventually empty into Hudson Bay....
- Beaver RiverBeaver River (Ontario)There are five rivers with the name Beaver River in the province of Ontario, Canada.The Beaver River in the Regional Municipality of Durham is a tributary of Lake Simcoe and has its mouth at the community of Beaverton at...