Hunter River (Prince Edward Island) facts for kids

The Hunter River, also known as the "River Clyde", is a cool Canadian river located in the northwest part of Queens County on Prince Edward Island. It's an important natural feature of the island, flowing through beautiful landscapes.

Journey of the Hunter River

The Hunter River begins its journey near a place called Hartsville. From there, it flows northwards. As it gets closer to New Glasgow, the river changes. It becomes a tidal estuary. An estuary is a special place where the river water mixes with salty ocean water. Think of it as the river meeting the sea!

Where the River Meets the Sea

At New Glasgow, the Hunter River's estuary becomes part of Rustico Bay. This part of the river gets wider and wider, reaching about 750 meters (2,460 feet) across. Finally, the river flows into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. This is a large arm of the Atlantic Ocean.

How Long is the River?

The main part of the Hunter River, which winds and turns, is about 13 kilometers (8 miles) long. On top of that, its estuary adds another 8 kilometers (5 miles) to its length. So, it's quite a long waterway!

Communities Along the River

The Hunter River flows through several interesting communities. These include the village of Hunter River itself, New Glasgow, and North Rustico. These towns have a special connection to the river.

River's Past Uses

Long ago, the Hunter River was used in different ways by the people living nearby.

• There used to be a ferry service at Hunter River. This ferry helped people cross the river easily.
• The river was also dammed in at least two spots. These dams helped power mills, which were used to grind grain or saw wood. Even today, the areas where these dams created ponds (called headponds) still exist.

The Hunter River Watershed

The area of land that drains all its water into the Hunter River is called its watershed. This watershed is quite large, covering about 9,000 hectares (22,000 acres). It's like a giant funnel that collects all the rain and snowmelt, sending it towards the river.

Protecting the River

To keep the Hunter River and its surrounding areas healthy, a group called the Hunter-Clyde Watershed Group was formed in the year 2000. Their main goal is to improve and protect the river's ecosystem. An ecosystem includes all the living things (like plants and animals) and non-living things (like water and soil) that interact in an area. This group works hard to make sure the river stays clean and healthy for everyone.

Images for kids

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  Panorama of the Hunter River in New Glasgow