Magpie River (Ontario)
Encyclopedia
The Magpie River is a river in Algoma District, northeastern Ontario
, Canada
that empties into Michipicoten Bay on Lake Superior
near the town of Wawa
. The river drains an area of about 1900 square kilometres (734 sq mi).
at an elevation of 420 metres (1,378 ft) and flows north then northeast through a series of lakes including Wejinabikun Lake
and North Wejinabikun Lake
, to a point at 48°43′24"N 84°33′30"W at an elevation of 357 metres (1,171 ft), before turning southeast to enter Mosambik Lake
at an elevation of 347 metres (1,138 ft). The river exits at the north end of the lake and heads further north, and reaches a point as far north as 48°43′38"N 84°29′38"W at an elevation of 348 metres (1,142 ft), before heading east southeast into the northeast corner of Esnagi Lake
. From the north end of Esnagi Lake, the Five Mile Portage leads north, over Five Mile Creek, to Five Mile Bay on Kabinakagami Lake
on the Kabinakagami River, part of the Albany River
system, which leads north to James Bay
. An alternate route to James Bay is to take the further Pine Portage from Kabinakagami Lake then up the Oba River to the Albany Forks, from which the Mattawitchewan River flows downstream as part of the Missinaibi
and Moose
rivers into the bay.
At Esnagi Lake, the river takes in the right tributary Tripoli Creek
. The Magpie river then leaves Esnagi Lake at the south end at Swanson
, where the Canadian Pacific Railway
transcontinental mainline crosses. It continues south, passes over the Jean Falls, and takes in the left tributary Peckerwood Creek at an elevation of 339 metres (1,112 ft). The river takes in the left tributary Hobon Creek just upstream of the community of Dubreuilville. There, it takes in the left tributary Herman Creek, is crossed by Highway 519
, and takes a sharp turn west. The Soderston Creek enters from the right, and the river passes over the Toolong Rapids, where it once again heads south. The Evans Creek enters from the right, and the Magpie River passes over the Cedar Falls, then further downstream the Steephill Falls. The river takes in the right tributary Catfish Creek
, and reaches Wawa, where it is crossed by the Algoma Central Railway branch line to Michipicoten Harbour and Highway 17
. The river then passes over the Magpie Falls, and takes in the Michipicoten River
just before its mouth at Michipicoten Bay on Lake Superior at the site of Michipicoten Provincial Park.
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....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
that empties into Michipicoten Bay on Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
near the town of Wawa
Wawa, Ontario
Wawa is a township in the Canadian province of Ontario, located within the Algoma District. Formerly known as the township of Michipicoten, the township was officially renamed for its largest and best-known community in 2009....
. The river drains an area of about 1900 square kilometres (734 sq mi).
Course
The river begins at Upper Magpie LakeUpper Magpie Lake (Ontario)
Upper Magpie Lake is a lake in the Lake Superior drainage basin in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada and the source of the Magpie River. It is about long and wide and lies at an elevation of . The primary outflow is the Magpie River which flows into Lake Superior....
at an elevation of 420 metres (1,378 ft) and flows north then northeast through a series of lakes including Wejinabikun Lake
Wejinabikun Lake (Ontario)
Wejinabikun Lake is a lake in the Lake Superior drainage basin in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is about long and wide and lies at an elevation of . The primary inflow and outflow is the Magpie River, which flows downstream into North Wejinabikun Lake, and eventually into Lake Superior....
and North Wejinabikun Lake
North Wejinabikun Lake (Ontario)
North Wejinabikun Lake is a lake in the Lake Superior drainage basin in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is about long and wide and lies at an elevation of . The primary inflow is the Magpie River from Wejinabikun Lake, and the primary outflow is the same river, which flows downstream towards...
, to a point at 48°43′24"N 84°33′30"W at an elevation of 357 metres (1,171 ft), before turning southeast to enter Mosambik Lake
Mosambik Lake (Ontario)
Mosambik Lake is a lake in the Lake Superior drainage basin in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is about long and wide and lies at an elevation of . The primary inflow is the Magpie River from North Wejinabikun Lake on the west side of the lake, and there are several unnamed creek inflows,...
at an elevation of 347 metres (1,138 ft). The river exits at the north end of the lake and heads further north, and reaches a point as far north as 48°43′38"N 84°29′38"W at an elevation of 348 metres (1,142 ft), before heading east southeast into the northeast corner of Esnagi Lake
Esnagi Lake
Esnagi Lake is a large "V"-shaped lake in the Lake Superior drainage basin in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is about long and wide and lies at an elevation of , with the "V" on its side and the apex facing west. The primary inflows are the Magpie River from Mosambik Lake at the north end...
. From the north end of Esnagi Lake, the Five Mile Portage leads north, over Five Mile Creek, to Five Mile Bay on Kabinakagami Lake
Kabinakagami Lake
Kabinakagami Lake is a lake in the Unorganized North Part of Algoma District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. The lake is on the Kabinakagami River and is part of the James Bay drainage basin...
on the Kabinakagami River, part of the Albany River
Albany River
The Albany River is a river in Northern Ontario, Canada, which flows northeast from Lake St. Joseph in Northwestern Ontario and empties into James Bay. It is long to the head of the Cat River, tying it with the Severn River for the title of longest river in Ontario...
system, which leads north to James Bay
James Bay
James Bay is a large body of water on the southern end of Hudson Bay in Canada. Both bodies of water extend from the Arctic Ocean. James Bay borders the provinces of Quebec and Ontario; islands within the bay are part of Nunavut...
. An alternate route to James Bay is to take the further Pine Portage from Kabinakagami Lake then up the Oba River to the Albany Forks, from which the Mattawitchewan River flows downstream as part of the Missinaibi
Missinaibi River
The Missinaibi River is a river in northern Ontario, Canada, which flows northeast from Missinaibi Lake, north of Chapleau, and empties into the Moose River, which drains into James Bay. This river is in length...
and Moose
Moose River (Ontario)
The Moose River is a Canadian river in the Hudson Plains ecozone of northern Ontario which flows 100 km northeast from the junction of the Mattagami and Missinaibi Rivers into James Bay. Its drainage basin is 108,500 km² and it has a mean discharge rate of 1370 m³/s. Its full length...
rivers into the bay.
At Esnagi Lake, the river takes in the right tributary Tripoli Creek
Tripoli Creek (Algoma District, Ontario)
Tripoli Creek is a creek in the Lake Superior drainage basin in Algoma District, northeastern Ontario, Canada.-Hydrology:The creek begins at an unnamed lake at an elevation of , about north of Highway 17, travels north through a series of small lakes, and crosses the Canadian Pacific Railway...
. The Magpie river then leaves Esnagi Lake at the south end at Swanson
Swanson, Ontario
Swanson is a settlement and unincorporated place in the Unorganized North Part of Algoma District, northeastern Ontario, Canada. It lies at the south end of Esnagi Lake on the Magpie River where the Canadian Pacific Railway transcontinental main line crosses the river, between the settlements of...
, where the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
transcontinental mainline crosses. It continues south, passes over the Jean Falls, and takes in the left tributary Peckerwood Creek at an elevation of 339 metres (1,112 ft). The river takes in the left tributary Hobon Creek just upstream of the community of Dubreuilville. There, it takes in the left tributary Herman Creek, is crossed by Highway 519
Highway 519 (Ontario)
Secondary Highway 519, commonly referred to as Highway 519, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. The highway is in length, connecting Highway 17 near Obatanga Provincial Park with Dubreuilville station. A private logging road continues east from there.Highway...
, and takes a sharp turn west. The Soderston Creek enters from the right, and the river passes over the Toolong Rapids, where it once again heads south. The Evans Creek enters from the right, and the Magpie River passes over the Cedar Falls, then further downstream the Steephill Falls. The river takes in the right tributary Catfish Creek
Catfish Creek (Ontario)
Catfish Creek is a creek in Elgin County in southwestern Ontario which empties into the north shore of Lake Erie.Communities on the creek include:*Aylmer, Ontario*Port Bruce, Ontario-External links:*...
, and reaches Wawa, where it is crossed by the Algoma Central Railway branch line to Michipicoten Harbour and Highway 17
Highway 17 (Ontario)
King's Highway 17, more commonly known as Highway 17, is a provincially maintained highway and the primary route of the Trans-Canada Highway through the Canadian province of Ontario. It begins at the Manitoba border west of Kenora and ends south of Arnprior at the western terminus of Highway 417, ...
. The river then passes over the Magpie Falls, and takes in the Michipicoten River
Michipicoten River
The Michipicoten River is a river in the Algoma District of northern Ontario, Canada, which flows from Dog Lake and joins with the Magpie River to empty into Michipicoten Bay on Lake Superior near the town of Wawa...
just before its mouth at Michipicoten Bay on Lake Superior at the site of Michipicoten Provincial Park.
Economy
There are also several hydroelectric plants on the river; the largest is located at Steephill Falls.Tributaries
- Michipicoten River (left)
- Catfish Creek (right)
- Evans Creek (right)
- Soderston Creek (right)
- Herman Creek (left)
- Hobon Creek (left)
- Peckerwood Creek (left)
- Tripoli Creek (right)