List of rivers of Ontario facts for kids

The Agawa River in the Algoma District

Ontario is a huge province in Canada, and it has many amazing rivers! These rivers are like natural highways for water, flowing across the land and eventually reaching larger lakes or oceans. When we talk about rivers, we often think about their "watershed." A watershed is like a giant bowl where all the rain and snow that falls eventually drains into one main river or lake. Think of it as all the land that funnels water into a specific river system. This article will explore some of the most important rivers in Ontario, grouped by where their water ends up.

The Dee River, for example, is a smaller river that connects Three Mile Lake and Lake Rosseau.

Rivers Flowing to Hudson Bay

Many of Ontario's rivers flow north towards Hudson Bay. This means their water eventually mixes with the Arctic Ocean! These rivers are often wild and remote, flowing through vast forests and wetlands.

• Nelson River Watershed: Even though the Nelson River is mostly in Manitoba, some Ontario rivers contribute to its flow.
  • Berens River: This river flows west into Lake Winnipeg, which then drains into the Nelson River.
  • Winnipeg River: A major river that flows from Lake of the Woods into Lake Winnipeg.
    • Rainy River: This river forms part of the border between Ontario and Minnesota. It flows into Rainy Lake.
      • Turtle River: A tributary that joins the Rainy River system.
      • Seine River: Another important tributary flowing into Rainy Lake.
    • English River: This river flows into the Winnipeg River system.
      • Wabigoon River: A significant tributary of the English River.
• Severn River: This large river flows directly into Hudson Bay.
  • Fawn River: A major branch of the Severn River.
  • Sachigo River: Another important tributary of the Severn.
• Winisk River: This river also flows directly into Hudson Bay.
• Sutton River (Hudson Bay): A shorter river flowing into Hudson Bay.
• Ekwan River: This river flows into James Bay, which is the southern part of Hudson Bay.
• Attawapiskat River: Another large river that flows into James Bay.
  • Missisa River: A tributary of the Attawapiskat.
• Kapiskau River: This river also empties into James Bay.
• Albany River: One of the longest rivers in Ontario, flowing into James Bay.
  • Kenogami River: A major tributary of the Albany River.
    • Little Current River: A branch of the Kenogami.
  • Ogoki River: Another large tributary of the Albany River.
• Moose River: This is a very important river system that flows into James Bay. It's formed by the joining of several large rivers.
  • Abitibi River: A major river that joins the Moose River.
    • Frederick House River: A tributary of the Abitibi.
    • Black River: Another tributary of the Abitibi.
  • Mattagami River: This river also flows into the Moose River.
    • Kapuskasing River: A significant tributary of the Mattagami.
    • Groundhog River: Another tributary of the Mattagami.
  • Missinaibi River: This river is also part of the Moose River system.
• Harricana River: This river starts in Quebec but flows into Ontario before emptying into James Bay.

Rivers Flowing to the Atlantic Ocean

Many of Ontario's rivers flow south, eventually reaching the Atlantic Ocean through the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence River.

Rivers to Lake Superior

Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes. Rivers flowing into it are often short and steep.

• Pigeon River: This river forms part of the border with the USA.
• Kaministiquia River: A historic river near Thunder Bay.
• Nipigon River: This powerful river drains Lake Nipigon, a very large lake, into Lake Superior.
  • Lake Nipigon watershed: Many rivers flow into Lake Nipigon.
    • Ogoki River: A large river that flows into Lake Nipigon.
• Pic River: This river flows into Lake Superior.
• White River: Another river emptying into Lake Superior.
• Michipicoten River: A significant river flowing into Lake Superior.
• Agawa River: This river flows into Lake Superior in the Algoma District.
• Montreal River: Another river that empties into Lake Superior.
• Goulais River: This river also flows into Lake Superior.

Rivers to Lake Huron and Georgian Bay

Lake Huron and its large arm, Georgian Bay, receive water from many rivers in central Ontario.

• Ausable River: This river flows into Lake Huron.
• French River: A very important river that connects Lake Nipissing to Georgian Bay. It's part of the historic Trent-Severn Waterway.
  • Wanapitei River: A major tributary of the French River.
  • Lake Nipissing watershed: Many rivers flow into Lake Nipissing.
    • Sturgeon River: A large river flowing into Lake Nipissing.
• Magnetawan River: This river flows into Georgian Bay.
• Mississagi River: A large river that flows into Lake Huron.
• Muskoka River: This river system is famous for its beautiful cottage country. It flows into Georgian Bay.
• Nottawasaga River: This river flows into Georgian Bay.
• St. Marys River: This short but powerful river connects Lake Superior to Lake Huron.
• Sauble River: This river flows into Lake Huron.
• Saugeen River: A large river that flows into Lake Huron.
• Severn River: This river connects Lake Simcoe to Georgian Bay and is also part of the Trent-Severn Waterway.
  • Lake Simcoe watershed: Many rivers flow into Lake Simcoe.
• Spanish River: A large river that flows into Lake Huron.
  • Vermilion River: A major tributary of the Spanish River.

Rivers to Lake Erie

Lake Erie is the shallowest of the Great Lakes.

• Detroit River: This river connects Lake St. Clair to Lake Erie and forms part of the border with the USA.
  • Lake St. Clair watershed: Rivers flowing into Lake St. Clair eventually reach Lake Erie.
    • Thames River: A major river in southwestern Ontario that flows into Lake St. Clair.
    • Sydenham River: Another river flowing into Lake St. Clair.
• Big Otter Creek: This creek flows directly into Lake Erie.
• Grand River: One of the largest rivers in southern Ontario, flowing into Lake Erie.
  • Conestogo River: A tributary of the Grand River.
  • Nith River: Another tributary of the Grand River.
  • Speed River: This river also joins the Grand River.

Rivers to Lake Ontario

Lake Ontario is the easternmost of the Great Lakes.

• Niagara River: This famous river connects Lake Erie to Lake Ontario and is home to Niagara Falls.
• Twelve Mile Creek: This creek flows into Lake Ontario near St. Catharines.
• Credit River: A significant river flowing into Lake Ontario west of Toronto.
• Etobicoke Creek: This creek flows through the western part of Toronto into Lake Ontario.
• Humber River: A major river system in Toronto that flows into Lake Ontario.
• Don River: Another important river in Toronto, flowing into Lake Ontario.
• Highland Creek: This creek flows through the eastern part of Toronto into Lake Ontario.
• Rouge River: This river flows through Toronto and Pickering into Lake Ontario.
• Duffins Creek: This creek flows into Lake Ontario in Durham Region.
• Ganaraska River: This river flows into Lake Ontario at Port Hope.
• Trent River: A major river that is part of the Trent-Severn Waterway, flowing into Lake Ontario at Trenton.
  • Otonabee River: This river flows through Peterborough and into the Trent River system.
    • Kawartha Lakes drainage basin: Many rivers and lakes are part of this system, eventually flowing into the Trent River.
      • Burnt River: A river in the Kawarthas.
      • Gull River: Another river in the Kawarthas.
• Moira River: This river flows into Lake Ontario at Belleville.
• Salmon River: This river also flows into Lake Ontario.
• Napanee River: This river flows into Lake Ontario at Napanee.
• Cataraqui River: This river flows through Kingston and is part of the Rideau Canal system, connecting to Lake Ontario.
• Gananoque River: This river flows into Lake Ontario near Gananoque.

Rivers to the Saint Lawrence River

The Saint Lawrence River is a huge river that connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. Some Ontario rivers flow directly into it.

• Raisin River: This river flows into the Saint Lawrence River in eastern Ontario.

Rivers to the Ottawa River

The Ottawa River forms part of the border between Ontario and Quebec and is a major tributary of the Saint Lawrence River.

• Blanche River (Lake Timiskaming): This river flows into Lake Timiskaming, which is part of the Ottawa River system.
• Montreal River: This river flows into the Ottawa River system.
• Mattawa River: This historic river connects Lake Nipissing to the Ottawa River.
• Petawawa River: This river flows into the Ottawa River.
• Bonnechere River: This river also flows into the Ottawa River.
• Madawaska River: A large river that flows into the Ottawa River.
  • York River: A major tributary of the Madawaska.
• Mississippi River: This river (not the famous one in the USA!) flows into the Ottawa River.
• Carp River: This river flows into the Ottawa River near Ottawa.
• Rideau River: This river flows through Ottawa and into the Ottawa River. It's also part of the Rideau Canal system.
  • Jock River: A tributary of the Rideau River.
• South Nation River: This river flows into the Ottawa River.

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See also

• List of rivers of Canada
• List of rivers of the Americas
• Hudson Bay drainage basin
• List of lakes of Ontario
• Geography of Ontario