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Mississagi River
Mississagi River
	Mississagi River basin map
	Location of the mouth of the Mississagi River in Ontario
Etymology	misi-zaagi, "river with a wide mouth" in Ojibwe
Location
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
Districts	Algoma; Sudbury;
Physical characteristics
Source	Unnamed lake
• location	Unorganized, North Part, Sudbury District
• coordinates	47°17′57″N 82°39′34″W / 47.29917°N 82.65944°W
• elevation	520 m (1,710 ft)
Mouth	Lake Huron
• location	Blind River, Algoma District
• coordinates	46°10′29″N 83°0′58″W / 46.17472°N 83.01611°W
• elevation	176 m (577 ft)
Length	266 km (165 mi)
Basin size	9,270 km2 (3,580 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	118 m3/s (4,200 cu ft/s)
• minimum	38.3 m3/s (1,350 cu ft/s)
• maximum	225 m3/s (7,900 cu ft/s)
Basin features
River system	Great Lakes Basin
Tributaries
• left	Sharpsand, Rapid, Little White
• right	Abinette, Cypress, Wenebegon, Aubinadong, Bolton

The Mississagi River is a river in Algoma and Sudbury Districts, Ontario, Canada, that originates in Sudbury District and flows 266 kilometres (165 mi) to Lake Huron at Blind River, Algoma District.^[3]

Etymology

The river's name comes from the Ojibwe misi-zaagi, meaning "river with a wide mouth".

Geography

The Mississagi River begins in a small unnamed lake in Sudbury District and flows south 8 kilometres (5 mi) from that point to the border of Algoma District, then southeast through a north-east corner of the district, before returning once again to Sudbury District at White Owl Lake, from which it flows into Mississagi Lake at an elevation of 457 metres (1,499 ft).^[3]

The river then turns south and heads to Kettle Lake, the furthest point east it reaches, before continuing south and entering Mississagi River Provincial Park at Upper Bark Lake at an elevation of 446 metres (1,463 ft). The river then continues south and crosses back into Algoma District, where it remains for the rest of its journey to Lake Huron, and enters the large L-shaped Bark Lake. It then heads west through Hellgate Rapids, takes in its right tributary the Abinette River at an elevation of 411 metres (1,348 ft), splits into two channels to form an island at 46°56′22″N 82°48′05″W / 46.93944°N 82.80139°W / 46.93944; -82.80139, recombines at 46°55′55″N 82°48′52″W / 46.93194°N 82.81444°W / 46.93194; -82.81444, and enters the large Rocky Island Lake at an elevation of 410 metres (1,345 ft), where the right tributary Cypress River enters. The Mississagi River then flows into Aubrey Lake, partially formed by the Aubrey Falls Generating Station (hydro) and dam, and where the Wenebegon Rivers joins. Not all the water is funnelled into the station, however; some continues to form the Aubrey Falls.^[3]

The river turns south and the right tributary Aubinadong River enters, followed by two left tributaries, the Sharpsand River and the Rapid River in quick succession, and further on, another left tributary, Snowshoe Creek from Wakomata Lake. Then it reaches Tunnel Lake, formed by the George W Rayner Generating Station and Wells Generating Station and associated dams. The river then heads southeast where the left tributary Little White River enters, and continues to Red Rock Lake, created by the Red Rock Falls Generating Station and dam, over the Shino Rapids, takes in the right tributary Bolton River, then reaches the North Channel on Lake Huron.^[3]

Over the period 1961 to 2023, the Mississagi River has a mean flow of 118 cubic metres per second (4,200 cu ft/s). Mean minimal flow is 38.3 cubic metres per second (1,350 cu ft/s) and mean maximum flow is 255 cubic metres per second (9,000 cu ft/s). Record maximum flow was 415 cubic metres per second (14,700 cu ft/s) in May 1997, while record minimum flow was 25.5 cubic metres per second (900 cu ft/s) in December 1976.^[2]

The river's delta is a "bird's foot" delta, a type not commonly found on the Great Lakes.^{[citation needed]} The Mississippi River in Louisiana has a bird's foot delta.

Communities along the Mississagi River in upstream order:

Mississauga First Nation
Blind River
Iron Bridge
Wharncliffe, Ontario

Tributaries

Abinette River (right)
Cypress River (right)
Wenebegon River (right)
Aubinadong River (right)
Sharpsand River (left)
Rapid River (left)
Grindstone Creek (left)
Little White River (left)
Bolton River (right)

History

The Ojibwa people used the river to travel between the forests of the interior and Lake Huron.^[4] In 1799, the North West Company built a fur trading post at the mouth of the river, which became a Hudson's Bay Company post in 1821 when these 2 companies merged. In the 1830s, the post was only staffed in the winter. The post (spelled over time as Mississagi, Mississague, Mississagaue, Missasague, Mississagui, Mississaguie, Mississaugie, Mitsisague, Missisaguee, Missisauge, Mississauga, and Mississauguay) was important in blocking competition from trading in the Temiskamingue area. The post was closed in 1900.^[5]

During the second half of the 19th century, the river was used to transport logs to sawmills at Blind River.

Economy

Ontario Hydro constructed dams and four hydroelectric generating stations on the Mississagi River, Rayner G.S., Wells G.S., Red Rock Falls G.S., and Aubrey Falls G.S. between 1950 and 1970, which today are operated by Brookfield Asset Management. Historically, mining and forestry played a large role, but today tourism is the primary activity along the river.

Highway 129 follows the river from Wharncliffe until the river turns east at Aubrey Falls.

Ecology

The lower river is an important spawning ground for lake sturgeon.

Aubrey Falls Provincial Park is on the river at Aubrey Falls. Mississagi River Provincial Park encompasses the upper reaches of the river including Mississagi Lake. Mississagi Provincial Park is on the Boland River, a tributary of the Little White River. Mississagi Delta Provincial Nature Reserve Park encompasses the river's delta mouth. The Voyageur Hiking Trail follows the lower portion of the river near Iron Bridge.