Muskrat River (Ontario) Explained

Muskrat River
Pushpin Map:Canada Ontario
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of the mouth of the Muskrat River in Ontario
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:Canada
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Name2:Ontario
Subdivision Type4:County
Subdivision Name4:Renfrew
Subdivision Type5:Municipalities
Source1:Edmunds Lake
Source1 Location:Township of Whitewater Region
Source1 Coordinates:45.5633°N -76.7328°W
Source1 Elevation:164m (538feet)
Mouth:Ottawa River
Mouth Location:Pembroke
Mouth Coordinates:45.8292°N -77.1136°W
Mouth Elevation:110m (360feet)
Tributaries Left:Indian River, Mud Creek, Snake River
Tributaries Right:Buttermilk Creek

The Muskrat River is a river in Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada that flows into the Ottawa River at the city of Pembroke.

Course

The river begins at Edmunds Lake, one of the Champlain Trail Lakes and near the community of Garden of Eden, and heads northwest through other Champlain Trail lakes to reach the largest, Jeffrys Lake. It continues northwest, loops under Ontario Highway 17, and takes in the right tributary Buttermilk Creek just before reaching Muskrat Lake at the community of Cobden. There, the left tributary Snake River joins. The river exits the lake near the community of Meath Hill, and continues northwest, looping west and east again under Ontario Highway 17 while taking the left tributary Mud Creek at Mud Lake, and then takes in the left tributary Indian River before reaching its mouth at the Ottawa River at Pembroke.

Economy

The river once provided hydroelectric power for Pembroke.

Ecology

In the fall, thousands of swallows gather at the mouth of this river before continuing their migration south.

Tributaries

See also

References