Goulais River facts for kids
The Goulais River (say it: goo-lee) is a river in northern Ontario, Canada. It starts high up in the Algoma hills. Then, it flows into Goulais Bay, which is part of the big Lake Superior. This happens near a city called Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The Goulais River is one of the largest rivers that flows into the eastern side of Lake Superior. It drains a huge area, about 2,000 square kilometers (that's about 772 square miles!).
Long ago, in the late 1800s, the river was super important. People used the river and its smaller streams (called tributaries) to float logs down to local sawmills. These sawmills would then cut the logs into lumber. Today, the Algoma Central Railway train line travels along the river valley on its way to the Agawa canyon.
The Goulais River was once a very important place for lake sturgeon to lay their eggs. But over time, things changed. Lots of logging happened, and people fished a lot. Also, an electric barrier was put in place to stop sea lampreys from swimming upstream. This barrier was removed in 1960, but these things together reduced the number of sturgeon in the river.
Today, the river is a great spot for fun activities! People love to go canoeing, kayaking, and swimming here. Parts of the river and where it starts are now protected by the Goulais River Provincial Park.
The river's name, Goulais, probably comes from a French word, goulet. This word means "narrow passage." It's also where English words like "gully" and "gullet" come from! The French people used to call the area at the river's mouth Anse de la pêche, which means "Fish Inlet."
The Goulais River is a popular place for fishing, especially for yellow pickerel. You can also find bass, brook trout, and other kinds of fish living in the river.
Goulais River Provincial Park
Quick facts for kids Goulais River Provincial Park |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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| Location | Ontario, Canada |
| Area | 50.86 km2 (19.64 sq mi) |
| Established | 2003 |
| Governing body | Ontario Parks |
Since 2003, a special part of the river has been protected. This area is called the Goulais River Provincial Park. It covers about 5,086 hectares (that's about 12,568 acres!). This park is a "waterway park." This means it's a strip of land along both sides of the river.
The park has many cool features. You can see wetlands along the shore, beautiful waterfalls, and even a lake section. It also flows through areas with rocky slopes and bedrock that look like natural rock gardens. The park is home to a healthy population of brook trout that can take care of themselves.
The Goulais River Provincial Park is a "non-operating park." This means there are no special visitor buildings or services like campgrounds or washrooms. It's a place to enjoy nature as it is!
