Attawapiskat River | |
Name Other: | Kâh-tawâpiskâk |
Name Etymology: | From the Swampy Cree (Omushkegowuk) tawâpiskâ (Gap Between the Rocks) |
Pushpin Map: | Canada Ontario |
Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the mouth of the Attawapiskat River in Ontario. |
Subdivision Type1: | Country |
Subdivision Name1: | Canada |
Subdivision Type2: | Province |
Subdivision Name2: | Ontario |
Subdivision Type3: | Region |
Subdivision Name3: | Northwestern Ontario |
Subdivision Type4: | District |
Subdivision Name4: | Kenora |
Length: | 748km (465miles) |
Discharge1 Avg: | 626m3/s |
Source1: | Attawapiskat Lake |
Source1 Coordinates: | 52.1589°N -87.5958°W |
Source1 Elevation: | 241m (791feet) |
Mouth: | Akimiski Strait, James Bay |
Mouth Coordinates: | 52.9667°N -82.2611°W |
Mouth Elevation: | 0m (00feet) |
River System: | James Bay drainage basin |
Basin Size: | 50500km2 |
Tributaries Left: | North Channel, Muketei River |
Tributaries Right: | Missisa River, Streatfeild River |
The Attawapiskat River is a river in Kenora District in northwestern Ontario, Canada, that flows east from Attawapiskat Lake to James Bay.[1] [2] It is the third largest river entirely in Ontario.
The Attawapiskat River travels a distance of 748km (465miles),[3] and has a drainage area of 50500km2. It is the third largest river entirely in Ontario.
The source of the river is Attawapiskat Lake at an elevation of 241m (791feet). 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 [4] 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 [5] at an elevation of 210m (690feet).
The river continues east, and makes a bend to the north at Pym Island at [6] at an elevation of 174m (571feet). The Streatfeild River joins from the right at an elevation of 148m (486feet), and the outlet river from McFaulds Lake, centre of the Northern Ontario Ring of Fire geological area, joins from the left 17km (11miles) further downstream at [7] at an elevation of 139m (456feet). Further downstream, the river then heads east once again. The Muketei River joins the Attawapiskat from the left at [8] at an elevation of 105m (344feet), and the Missisa River joins from the right 28km (17miles) further downstream at at an elevation of 98m (322feet).
At [9] at an elevation of 30m (100feet) the Lawashi Channel begins and takes part of the Attawapiskat's flow into the Lawashi River at a point 8.5km (05.3miles) upstream of that river's mouth at James Bay. The mouth of the Lawashi River is approximately 11km (07miles) southeast of the mouth of the Attawapiskat. After the Lawashi Channel branching, the main river continues east, past the community of Attawapiskat 10km (10miles) upstream from the mouth, and exits into the James Bay at the Akimiski Strait, across from Akimiski Island.
Less than 100km (100miles) 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.[10]
The Attawapiskat kimberlite field lies astride the river.
Otoskwin/Attawapiskat River Provincial Park[11] includes parts of the river from Attawapiskat Lake to a point just upstream of the confluence with the Muketei River.
Since June 26, 2008, the De Beers Victor Diamond Mine, in the Attawapiskat kimberlite field, has operated near the river about 90km (60miles) west of the community of Attawapiskat.[12] The mine was expected to produce 600000carat of diamonds a year.[13]