Jock River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jock River |
|
|---|---|
The Jock River in Ottawa
|
|
 Location of the mouth of the Jock River in southern Ontario
|
|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| Region | Eastern Ontario |
| County | Lanark |
| Regional municipality | Ottawa |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Franktown, Lanark County 136 m (446 ft) 44°58′57″N 76°03′53″W / 44.98250°N 76.06472°W |
| River mouth | Rideau River Ottawa 79 m (259 ft) 45°15′36″N 75°42′28″W / 45.26000°N 75.70778°W |
| Length | 72 km (45 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Rideau River→ Ottawa River→ Saint Lawrence River→ Gulf of Saint Lawrence |
| River system | Ottawa River drainage basin |
| Basin size | 551 km2 (213 sq mi) |
| Tributaries |
|
The Jock River is a cool river in Eastern Ontario, Canada. People sometimes call it the Mighty Jock. It flows through parts of Ottawa and Lanark County. This river is a branch of the bigger Rideau River. The Jock River got its name from a French man named Jacques. He sadly drowned in the river a long time ago, in the early 1800s. Before that, it was known as the Goodwood River. A group of volunteers called the Friends of the Jock River helps take care of it.
Where the Jock River Flows
The Jock River starts its journey in a place called Montague in Lanark County. From there, it flows north. It goes under the Canadian Pacific Railway main train line. Then it enters the area of Beckwith.
The river passes under Ontario Highway 15 and flows past the community of Franktown. It then reaches the Goodwood Marsh. After that, the river turns east and enters the City of Ottawa near Ashton.
It flows through the community of Richmond. The river then goes under Ontario Highway 416. Finally, the Jock River reaches its end where it joins the Rideau River. This meeting point is north of the community of Manotick. The area of land that drains into the Jock River is about 551 square kilometres (213 sq mi). This area is called its watershed.
Jock River Canoe Race
Each spring, there's an exciting event called the Annual Jock River Canoe Race. It happens for one weekend. The race course is about 12.5 kilometres (7.8 mi) long. It stretches between Munster Road and the town of Richmond. Much of the race goes through a special wetland area called the Richmond Fen.
This race has been held every year since 1985. It has become very popular. Many different types of competitors can join. There are classes for solo canoeing and kayaking. You can also race in pairs (tandem). There are categories for recreational paddlers, mixed teams, and even families.
The race usually takes place in early spring. This is because the river water levels are high then. High water makes for a faster and more exciting race. The course also has a few sections of Class I whitewater. This means there are some small rapids that add to the challenge.
Smaller Rivers Joining the Jock
Smaller rivers and streams that flow into a larger river are called tributaries. The Jock River has a few tributaries that join it. These help to feed the Jock River with water.
- Nichols Creek (joins from the right side)
- Kings Creek (joins from the right side)
