The Attawapiskat River 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.

Course

The Attawapiskat River travels a distance of 748 km, and has a drainage area of 50500 km2. It is the third largest river entirely in Ontario. The source of the river is Attawapiskat Lake at an elevation of 241 m. 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 52.19306°N, -87.47639°W 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 52.10111°N, -87.10194°W at an elevation of 210 m. The river continues east, and makes a bend to the north at Pym Island at 52.20556°N, -86.32444°W at an elevation of 174 m. The Streatfeild River joins from the right at an elevation of 148 m, and the outlet river from McFaulds Lake, centre of the Northern Ontario Ring of Fire geological area, joins from the left 17 km further downstream at 52.80278°N, -85.9125°W at an elevation of 139 m. Further downstream, the river then heads east once again. The Muketei River joins the Attawapiskat from the left at 53.14333°N, -85.29389°W at an elevation of 105 m, and the Missisa River joins from the right 28 km further downstream at 53.02667°N, -84.90056°W at an elevation of 98 m. At 52.94222°N, -83.16944°W at an elevation of 30 m the Lawashi Channel begins and takes part of the Attawapiskat's flow into the Lawashi River at a point 8.5 km upstream of that river's mouth at James Bay. The mouth of the Lawashi River is approximately 11 km southeast of the mouth of the Attawapiskat. After the Lawashi Channel branching, the main river continues east, past the community of Attawapiskat 10 km upstream from the mouth, and exits into the James Bay at the Akimiski Strait, across from Akimiski Island.

Geology

Less than 100 km 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

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. Since June 26, 2008, the De Beers Victor Diamond Mine, in the Attawapiskat kimberlite field, has operated near the river about 90 km west of the community of Attawapiskat. The mine was expected to produce 600000 carat of diamonds a year.

Tributaries

Sources