Attawapiskat River

The Attawapiskat River (Template:IPAc-en) is a river in Kenora District in northwestern Ontario, Canada, that flows east from Attawapiskat Lake to James Bay. It is the third largest river entirely in Ontario.

The Otoskwin–Attawapiskat River Provincial Park includes parts of the river from Attawapiskat Lake to a point just upstream of the confluence with the Muketei River.

Geography

The Attawapiskat River travels a distance of from the head of Bow Lake, and has a drainage area of . It is the third largest river entirely in Ontario.

The source of the river is Attawapiskat Lake at an elevation of . The main rivers flowing into the lake that are thus part of the Attawapiskat River drainage basin are the Marten-Drinking River, the Otoskwin River and the Pineimuta River.

There are two outflows from the Attawapiskat Lake into the Attawapiskat River: a southern and a northern channel. The southern channel is named by the Atlas of Canada as the Attawapiskat River, and is the source location listed in the Infobox at right. The northern channel is named by the Atlas of Canada as the North Channel, and is the more easily navigated route for canoeing. The North Channel outflow from Attawapiskat Lake is at and consists of two short streams that lead into Windsor Lake. The elevation of the river drops significantly along these two outflow channels, descending from the higher ground of the Canadian Shield to the flatter and more boggy Hudson Bay Lowlands. After a series of rapids, the North Channel rejoins the Attawapiskat River (the southern channel) at at an elevation of .

The river continues east, and makes a bend to the north at Pym Island at at an elevation of . The Streatfeild River joins from the right at an elevation of , and the outlet river from McFaulds Lake, centre of the Northern Ontario Ring of Fire geological area, joins from the left further downstream at at an elevation of . Further downstream, the river then heads east once again. The Muketei River joins the Attawapiskat from the left at at an elevation of , and the Missisa River joins from the right further downstream at at an elevation of .

At at an elevation of the Lawashi Channel begins and takes part of the Attawapiskat's flow into the Lawashi River at a point upstream of that river's mouth at James Bay. The mouth of the Lawashi River is approximately southeast of the mouth of the Attawapiskat. After the Lawashi Channel branching, the main river continues east, past the community of Attawapiskat upstream from the mouth, and exits into the James Bay at the Akimiski Strait, across from Akimiski Island.

Tributaries

• Missisa River (right)
• Muketei River (left)
• Streatfeild River (right)
• North Channel (left)
• Attawapiskat Lake (source)
  • Otoskwin River
  • Marten-Drinking River
  • Pineimuta River

Geology

Less than from its mouth, the Attawapiskat has carved out several clusters of spectacular high limestone islands, nicknamed by canoeists the "Birthday Cakes". The formations are unique to the region, the Swampy Cree (Omushkegowuk) word for which, tawâpiskâ (as "kâh-tawâpiskâk" in its Conjunct form and as "êh-tawâpiskât" in its Participle form), gives name to the river.

The Attawapiskat kimberlite field lies astride the river.

Economy

Since June 26, 2008, the De Beers Victor Diamond Mine, in the Attawapiskat kimberlite field, has operated near the river about west of the community of Attawapiskat. The mine was expected to produce of diamonds a year.

See also

• List of longest rivers of Canada
• List of rivers of Ontario

External links

• River islands formed of ancient reefs, Attawapiskat River, Ontario & Cliff-bound islands, Attawapiskat River, Ontario ("Birthday Cakes" limestone islands), and Mouth of Attawapiskat River, James Bay coast, Ontario. Photos from the Ontario - Hudson Bay Lowlands section of the Canadian Landscapes Photo Collection, Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2009-08-18.
• "Attawapiskat River". The Canadian Encyclopedia.