The Mattagami River is a river in Northern
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
, Canada.
The Mattagami flows from its source at Mattagami Lake in
geographic
Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth description") is a field of science devoted to the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and ...
Gouin Township in the
Unorganized North Part of Sudbury District, on the
Canadian Shield
The Canadian Shield (french: Bouclier canadien ), also called the Laurentian Plateau, is a geologic shield, a large area of exposed Precambrian igneous and high-grade metamorphic rocks. It forms the North American Craton (or Laurentia), the anc ...
southwest of
Timmins
Timmins ( ) is a city in northeastern Ontario, Canada, located on the Mattagami River. The city is the fourth-largest city in the Northeastern Ontario region with a population of 41,145 (2021). The city's economy is based on natural resource ext ...
,
[ Length to head of Lake Minissinakwa.] to Portage Island in geographic Gardiner Township in the
Unorganized North Part of Cochrane District, in the
Hudson Bay Lowlands
The Hudson Bay Lowlands is a vast wetland located between the Canadian Shield and southern shores of Hudson Bay and James Bay. Most of the area lies within the province of Ontario, with smaller portions reaching into Manitoba and Quebec. Many wide ...
. Here the Mattagami's confluence with the
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 (including Missinaibi Lake and Moose River t ...
forms the
Moose River, about from that river's tidewater outlet at James Bay.
The Mattagami River flows through the city of Timmins as well as the town of
Smooth Rock Falls
Smooth Rock Falls is an incorporated town in the Cochrane District in Northeastern Ontario, Canada, with a population of 1,330 at the 2016 census.
Geography and transportation
The town lies on the Mattagami River and on Highway 11. The next fu ...
and its drainage basin encompasses .
The Mattagami's name comes from the
Ojibwe
The Ojibwe, Ojibwa, Chippewa, or Saulteaux are an Anishinaabe people in what is currently southern Canada, the northern Midwestern United States, and Northern Plains.
According to the U.S. census, in the United States Ojibwe people are one of ...
and means either "the start of water" (''maadaagami'') or "turbulent water" (''madaagami''), but the local
Ojibwe
The Ojibwe, Ojibwa, Chippewa, or Saulteaux are an Anishinaabe people in what is currently southern Canada, the northern Midwestern United States, and Northern Plains.
According to the U.S. census, in the United States Ojibwe people are one of ...
population claim "Mattagami" is a corrupted form of "confluence" (''maadawaagami''). According to the Mattagami First Nation, Mattagami means "Meeting of the Waters".
Course
The river starts at Mattagami Lake and ends at its confluence with
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 (including Missinaibi Lake and Moose River t ...
, serving as a source for
Moose River.
[ Shows the course of the river highlighted on a map.]
Economy
Where the Groundhog and Kapuskasing Rivers flow into the Mattagami,
Ontario Power Generation
Ontario Power Generation Inc. (OPG) is a Crown corporation and "government business enterprise" that is responsible for approximately half of the electricity generation in the province of Ontario, Canada. It is wholly owned by the governmen ...
operates the Little Long Generating Station,
with a dam just over 5 km in length.
Tributaries
Tributaries include the:
*
Kapuskasing River
The Kapuskasing River is a river in the James Bay drainage basin in Cochrane District and Algoma District in northeastern Ontario, Canada. Shows the river course. The river is a left tributary of the Mattagami River.
Course
The river begins at ...
**Nemegosenda River
***Chapleau River
*
Groundhog River
**
Ivanhoe River
**Nat River
*
Poplar Rapids River
*
Kamiskotia River
*Grassy River
*Tatachikapika River
*
Mattagami Lake
**Minisinakwa River
***Nabakwasi River
****Opikinimika River
***Noble River
See also
*
List of rivers of Ontario
This is the list of rivers which are in and flow through Ontario. The watershed list includes tributaries as well.
Dee River, flows between Three Mile Lake and Lake Rosseau.
List of rivers arranged by watershed Hudson Bay
Atlantic Ocean
...
References
External links
Mattagami Region Conservation Authority
{{Authority control
Geography of Timmins
Rivers of Timiskaming District
Rivers of Sudbury District
Rivers of Cochrane District
Tributaries of Hudson Bay