MacFarlane River (Ontario) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids MacFarlane River |
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 Location of the mouth of the MacFarlane River in Ontario
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| Region | Northwestern Ontario |
| District | Kenora |
| Part | Kenora, Unorganized |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Rocky Lake 345 m (1,132 ft) 50°00′50″N 94°16′16″W / 50.01389°N 94.27111°W |
| River mouth | Winnipeg River 315 m (1,033 ft) 49°56′08″N 94°33′23″W / 49.93556°N 94.55639°W |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Hudson Bay drainage basin |
The MacFarlane River is a cool river located in the Kenora District of Northwestern Ontario, Canada. It flows into the Winnipeg River, making it a "tributary" – which means it's a smaller river that feeds into a larger one.
People in the area sometimes call it the "Black River." This is because its water looks dark. The dark color comes from natural plant materials called tannins, which stain the water.
Contents
River's Journey: Where Does It Flow?
The MacFarlane River starts its journey at a place called Rocky Lake. From there, it flows towards the southwest.
Lakes Along the Way
As the river travels, it passes through several lakes:
- First, it reaches Bluff Lake.
- Then, it flows into Grindstone Lake. Here, another small stream called Boot Creek joins it from the left.
- Next, it reaches Basket Lake.
- After that, it flows into Corn Lake. Here, Talbot Creek joins it from the left.
- Finally, it passes through Ena Lake. At Ena Lake, Whitney Creek joins from the left, and Octopus Creek joins from the right.
Reaching Its End
After Ena Lake, the river flows over a control dam. This dam helps manage the water flow. The MacFarlane River then reaches its "mouth" – the place where it empties into the larger Winnipeg River.
River and Railway
For most of its path, the MacFarlane River flows right next to the Canadian National Railway's main train line. It's like the river and the railway are traveling together!
Smaller Streams: Tributaries
Tributaries are smaller streams or rivers that flow into a larger river. The MacFarlane River has a few of these:
- Octopus Creek (joins from the right side)
- Whitney Creek (joins from the left side)
- Talbot Creek (joins from the left side)
- Boot Creek (joins from the left side)
Lakes Connected to the River
Here are the main lakes that the MacFarlane River flows through or is connected to:
- Ena Lake
- Corn Lake
- Basket Lake
- Grindstone Lake
- Bluff Lake
- Hall Lake
- Rocky Lake
Communities Along the River
Several small communities are located near the MacFarlane River:
- Ena Lake
- Redditt
- Brinka
