Mistik Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mistik Creek |
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Mistik Creek looking upstream to the northeast between Nisto Lake and Nao Lake
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 Location of Mistik Creek in Manitoba.
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Manitoba |
| Region | Northern Region |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Naosap Lake 330.4 m (1,084 ft) 54°51′00″N 101°24′50″W / 54.85000°N 101.41389°W |
| River mouth | Lake Athapapuskow 291 m (955 ft) 54°37′32″N 101°34′06″W / 54.62556°N 101.56833°W |
| Length | 44 km (27 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Nelson River drainage basin |
| Tributaries |
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The Mistik Creek is a cool river located in the northern part of Manitoba, Canada. It's part of the huge Hudson Bay drainage basin, which means its waters eventually flow into Hudson Bay. This creek is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of a place called Bakers Narrows.
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What is Mistik Creek Like?
This remote creek flows through a special area known as the Churchill River Upland. It's surrounded by a beautiful mixed forest. You can find trees like black spruce, white spruce, jack pine, and trembling aspen here. The land around the creek has steep, rocky ridges and some wet, boggy areas called muskeg.
The Mistik Creek area is mostly untouched by people. It's home to many amazing animals! You might spot moose, black bears, lynx, wolfes, and beavers. It's also part of the territory for the Naosap woodland caribou herd. For birdwatchers, there are ravens, common loons, spruce grouse, bald eagles, and hawk owls flying around. Getting to the creek isn't easy, but some people visit for trapping, hunting, and fishing.
Where Does the Name Come From?
The name "Mistik" comes from the Cree language, and it means "Tree." This river is quite special because it has fourteen lakes along its path, and they are all named in numeric order using Cree words! It's like a counting lesson as you go from one lake to the next.
Here are the fourteen lakes, listed from south to north, with their Cree names and what they mean in English:
- Payuk Lake = One (this is where the creek flows out)
- Neso Lake = Two
- Nisto Lake = Three
- Nao Lake = Four
- Niyanun Lake = Five
- Nikotwasik Lake = Six
- Tapukok Lake = Seven
- Uyenanao Lake = Eight
- Kakat Lake = Nine
- Mitatut Lake = Ten
- Payukosap Lake = Eleven
- Nesosap Lake = Twelve
- Nistosap Lake = Thirteen
- Naosap Lake = Fourteen (this is where the creek starts!)
Mistik Creek's Journey
Mistik Creek begins its journey in Naosap Lake. The lakes higher up along the creek are in very uneven areas with low banks, surrounded by muskeg. In these parts, the creek flows quite slowly. As you go further downstream, the lakes get smaller, and the river sections turn into continuous rapids, which means the water flows much faster!
Near Neso Lake, the creek flows past the Neso Lake Provincial Park. It also goes under Manitoba Highway 10 before finally emptying into Lake Athapapuskow. This happens through a smaller creek called Payuk Creek, which flows out of Payuk Lake.
Adventure on the Water: Canoeing Mistik Creek
If you love adventure, the "Mistik Creek Loop" is a famous wilderness canoe trip! It's about 95 kilometers (59 miles) long and usually takes four to five days to paddle. This route is known for having many short sections where you need to carry your canoe around small rapids. These spots are called portages, and they aren't always marked, so it's a real wilderness experience! The trip starts and ends at Bakers Narrows. It also involves longer portages between Lake Athapapuskow, Alberts Lake, and Naosap Lake.
Rivers Joining Mistik Creek
Like many rivers, Mistik Creek has other smaller streams and lakes that flow into it. These are called tributaries.
- Holt Lake (this one joins from the right side)
- Vamp Creek (this one joins from the left side)
