Gull River (Lake Nipigon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gull River |
|
|---|---|
|
Location of the mouth of the Gull River in Ontario
|
|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| Region | Northwestern Ontario |
| District | Thunder Bay |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Unnamed lake 494 m (1,621 ft) 49°14′33″N 89°52′01″W / 49.24250°N 89.86694°W |
| River mouth | Lake Nipigon 260 m (850 ft) 49°49′14″N 89°05′19″W / 49.82056°N 89.08861°W |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Great Lakes Basin |
The Gull River is a cool river found in the Thunder Bay District in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. This river is part of the huge Great Lakes Basin, which means its waters eventually flow into the Great Lakes. The Gull River is a smaller stream that flows into a bigger body of water, in this case, Lake Nipigon. Its name comes from the Ojibwa word gayaashk, which means "gull."
Contents
The River's Journey: Where Does it Flow?
The Gull River starts its journey from an unnamed lake. It then travels until it reaches Gull Bay, which is on the western side of the large Lake Nipigon.
Passing Through Gull Bay First Nation Lands
As the river flows, it goes through the Gull River 55 Indian Reserve. This reserve is home to the Gull Bay First Nation community and is located right on the south shore of Lake Nipigon. Rivers are often very important to Indigenous communities, providing water, food, and travel routes.
A Look Back: The River's History
The Gull River area has an interesting past, especially when it comes to trade.
Fur Trading at Gull Bay
Towards the end of the 1700s, a very important company called the Hudson's Bay Company set up a fur trading post. This post, named Nipigon House, was built right at Gull Bay. Fur trading was a big business back then. People would trade animal furs, like beaver pelts, for goods such as tools, blankets, and food. This made places like Gull Bay important centers for trade and meeting points for different groups of people.