Nipigon River
   HOME

TheInfoList



Click Here for Items Related To - Nipigon River
OR:
Nipigon River on:   [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Amazon]

The Nipigon River is located in
Thunder Bay District Thunder Bay District is a district#Ontario, district and Census divisions of Canada, census division in Northwestern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. The County seat, district seat is Thunder Bay. Most of the district (93.5%) is uni ...
in Northwestern
Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
,
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
. The
river A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows on land or inside Subterranean river, caves towards another body of water at a lower elevation, such as an ocean, lake, or another river. A river may run dry before reaching the end of ...
is about long (or when measured to the head of Ombabika River) and , and flows from
Lake Nipigon Lake Nipigon ( ; ; ) is a freshwater lake in Northwestern Ontario. Part of the Great Lakes drainage basin, it drains through the Nipigon River into Lake Superior. It is the largest lake entirely within the Canadian province of Ontario. Ety ...
to Nipigon Bay on
Lake Superior Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface areaThe Caspian Sea is the largest lake, but is saline, not freshwater. Lake Michigan–Huron has a larger combined surface area than Superior, but is normally considered tw ...
at the community of Red Rock, dropping from an elevation of . It is the largest tributary of Lake Superior. Since 1943, of the Ogoki River basin has been diverted to the headwaters of the Little Jackfish River, a tributary of Lake Nipigon. This diversion increases the size of the river's watershed by almost 60% to , and contributes an average of about to the Nipigon River. This increased flow has caused significant erosion and landslides along the river.


History

The Nipigon River was formerly known for the size and quantity of the brook trout that were to be found there. However, four dams built on the Nipigon led to a major decline in their population. The four dams are as follows: * Cameron Falls Dam built in 1918 * Virgin Falls Dam built in 1925 * Alexander Dam built in 1930 * Pine Portage Dam built in 1950


Modern uses

Three hydroelectric dams on the Nipigon, Cameron Falls Dam, Alexander Dam, and Pine Portage Dam (all operated by
Ontario Power Generation Ontario Power Generation Inc. (OPG) is a Crown corporations of Canada, Crown corporation and "government business enterprise" that is responsible for approximately half of the electricity generation in the province of Ontario, Canada. It is w ...
), provided 2,144 gigawatt-hours in 2000. This however effectively makes travel via boat between Lake Nipigon and Lake Superior impossible. The river is also a popular fishing destination.


Fishing

46 fish species have been identified in the Nipigon River, including the rare sturgeon, cisco, and “coaster” brook trout. In 1915, Dr Cook caught the world record for the largest brook trout, also known as speckled trout or coaster trout. Four years later, Prince Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII and Duke of Windsor), spent time fishing on the Nipigon; a trout that he caught was mounted and today is displayed at the National Archives of Canada. The river also has a run of lake trout, rainbow trout and salmon during various times of the year. Fish that migrate up the river are able to get to the first dam which is located approximately from the mouth of the river system. The reservoir between the dams are good fishery, especially for large speckled trout and lake trout. Fishing starts the first of May until freeze up at the end of November. The river can be accessed from boat, or fished by shore from various strategic locations.


See also

*
List of Ontario rivers This is the list of rivers which are in and flow through Ontario. The watershed list includes tributary, tributaries as well. Dee River, flows between Three Mile Lake and Lake Rosseau. List of rivers arranged by watershed Hudson Bay Atlantic ...


References


External links


Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources – Nipigon River

Ontario Power Generation – Nipigon River
{{Greatlakes Rivers of Thunder Bay District Tributaries of Lake Superior