Black Sturgeon River (Thunder Bay District) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Sturgeon River |
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 Location of the mouth of the Black Sturgeon River in Ontario.
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| Region | Northwestern Ontario |
| District | Thunder Bay |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Black Sturgeon Lake 251 m (823 ft) 49°17′00″N 88°46′32″W / 49.28333°N 88.77556°W |
| River mouth | Lake Superior 180 m (590 ft) 48°50′10″N 88°24′15″W / 48.83611°N 88.40417°W |
| Length | 72 km (45 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Lake Superior drainage basin |
| Tributaries |
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The Black Sturgeon River is a river found in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It flows through the Thunder Bay District and eventually empties into Lake Superior. This river is located to the west of the Nipigon River.
Contents
Discovering the Black Sturgeon River's Past
The Black Sturgeon River area has an interesting history. Part of the river is protected as the Black Sturgeon River Provincial Park. This park covers the land around Black Sturgeon Lake and extends south to the Black Sturgeon Dam.
Building the Dam and Its Impact
In 1959, a dam was built on the Black Sturgeon River. The main reason for building this dam was to control the water levels. However, it also stopped fish from being able to swim to the upper parts of the river. Some people believe that this dam might have caused a decrease in the number of walleye, which were a very common type of fish in the area.
Where Does the River Flow?
The Black Sturgeon River starts its journey at Black Sturgeon Lake. This lake is located southwest of Lake Nipigon. From there, the river flows mostly southeast.
The River's Path
As the river travels, it goes over areas like the Split Rapids. It then reaches Nonwatin Lake, where two smaller rivers, the Nonwatin River and Ferguson Creek, join it. The Black Sturgeon River then turns south, passing by Mount Magee. It continues southeast, flowing over the Gardener Rapids and past the Black Sturgeon Dam.
Further downstream, the river goes under some important transportation routes. These include Ontario Highway 11 / Ontario Highway 17, the Canadian National Railway line, and the Canadian Pacific Railway mainline near a small place called Everard. Finally, the Black Sturgeon River makes a sharp turn southwest and reaches its end at Black Bay, which is part of Lake Superior. This spot is about 6 kilometres (4 mi) southeast of the community of Hurkett.
Understanding the River's Land
The area around the Black Sturgeon River and Black Sturgeon Lake is quite special because of its geology. The river valley and the lake follow a major fault line. A fault is like a big crack in the Earth's crust. This particular one is called the Black Sturgeon Fault and runs from north to south.
Rocks and Rifts
The valley also has interesting rock formations called sills. These sills have a unique pattern called columnar jointing, which means the rock looks like it's made of many columns. These features are connected to something called the Midcontinent Rift System, which was a huge crack in the Earth's crust that formed a very long time ago.
Smaller Rivers Joining In
Many smaller streams and rivers flow into the Black Sturgeon River, adding to its water. These are called tributaries.
List of Tributaries
- Moseau Creek (joins from the left)
- Shillabeer Creek (joins from the right)
- Larson Creek (joins from the left)
- Scooper Creek (joins from the right)
- Mound Creek (joins from the left)
- Nonwatin River (joins from the right)
- Ferguson Creek (joins from the left)
