Coldwater River (Simcoe County) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coldwater River |
|
---|---|
![]() Coldwater River near the community of Coldwater
|
|
Location of the mouth of the Coldwater River in southern Ontario
|
|
Country | Canada |
Province | Ontario |
Region | Central Ontario |
County | Simcoe |
Physical characteristics | |
Main source | Unnamed lake Martinville, Oro-Medonte township 246 m (807 ft) 44°34′30″N 79°42′17″W / 44.57500°N 79.70472°W |
River mouth | Matchedash Bay Fesserton, Severn township 176 m (577 ft) 44°44′06″N 79°39′03″W / 44.73500°N 79.65083°W |
Basin features | |
River system | Great Lakes Basin |
Tributaries |
|
The Coldwater River is a cool river located in Simcoe County in Central Ontario, Canada. It's part of the huge Great Lakes Basin, which means its water eventually flows into the Great Lakes. This river starts west of Lake Simcoe and makes its way to Lake Huron. People believe its name comes from an Ojibwa word, gisinaa nibiish, which means "cold pool of water."
Where the Coldwater River Flows
The Coldwater River starts from a small lake that has a dam. This lake is right next to Ontario Highway 400 in a place called Martinville. It's also near the Oro Moraine, which is a hilly area formed by glaciers. Ducks Unlimited helped create this lake as part of the Copeland Forest Resource Management Area.
From there, the river flows northeast to a community called Eady. Then, it turns and heads northwest to the town of Coldwater, which is in the township of Severn. In Coldwater, the river goes under Ontario Highway 12, which is part of the Trans-Canada Highway.
The river keeps flowing in the same direction, passing through the Matchedash Bay Provincial Wilderness Area. Just before it turns west, another river called the North River joins it. Finally, the Coldwater River reaches its end near Fesserton. It empties into Catfish Bay, which is a smaller part of Matchedash Bay. Matchedash Bay itself is a sub-bay of Georgian Bay on Lake Huron.
What's Around the River
The valley where the Coldwater River flows is an important route for transportation. Both Ontario Highway 400 and the Canadian Pacific Railway use this valley. The railway's main line, called the Mactier Subdivision, runs through here.
The hills on either side of the river valley are home to several popular ski areas. On the west side, you'll find Mount St. Louis Moonstone. On the east side, there's the Horseshoe Resort. These places are great for winter sports!
Rivers Joining Coldwater
The Coldwater River has other smaller rivers that flow into it. These are called tributaries.