Moon River (Ontario) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moon River |
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The main falls of Moon River Falls where it empties into Moon River Bay, Georgian Bay, Lake Huron
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 Location of the mouth of the river in Southern Ontario
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| Region | Central Ontario |
| District | Muskoka |
| Municipalities |
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lake Muskoka Bala, Muskoka Lakes 225 m (738 ft) 45°00′49″N 79°36′51″W / 45.013476178089455°N 79.61427288570181°W |
| River mouth | Georgian Bay Georgian Bay, Ontario 176 m (577 ft) 45°06′57″N 79°58′12″W / 45.11583°N 79.97000°W |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Great Lakes Basin |
| Tributaries |
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The Moon River is a river located in Ontario, Canada. It flows from Lake Muskoka near the town of Bala all the way to Georgian Bay, which is part of Lake Huron. People believe the river's name comes from the Ojibwa words moonz-ziibi, meaning "moose river".
Contents
River's Journey: Where Does Moon River Flow?
The Moon River starts at the Bala Falls in Bala. These falls help drain water from Lake Muskoka. From there, the river flows northeast. It passes through a spot called Moon Chute. Here, another river, the Musquash River, branches off to the south.
The Moon River continues its journey into the Wahta Mohawk Territory. It flows over the Island Portage Falls and then takes in water from Haggart Creek. After this, it enters the area of Georgian Bay. The river keeps heading northeast, going over Jack Knife Rapids and under Ontario Highway 400.
It then flows through the Moon River Conservation Reserve and the Lower Moon River Conservation Reserve. It passes over the Twin Rapids and the community of Moon River before finally reaching its end at Arnolds Bay on Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. For a long time, until 1968, the Moon River and Musquash River were thought to be part of the Muskoka River.
Wildlife: Animals Living Near the Moon River
The area around the Moon River is home to some special animals. One of these is the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake. This snake is one of the few types of rattlesnakes you can find in Canada. It's important to respect their space and observe them from a safe distance.
Fun Activities: Exploring the Moon River
The Moon River is a popular spot for outdoor adventures. It's a traditional route for canoeing and passes through protected areas called Moon River and Lower Moon River Conservation Reserves.
- Boating: You can explore the Lower Moon River Conservation Reserve by power boat. You can travel from Georgian Bay up to the base of Moon Falls.
- Camping: There are places along the river and below Moon Falls where you can set up camp. These are called Crown land camping sites.
- Hunting and Fishing: People also visit these areas for different types of hunting and to catch various kinds of fish.
River Challenges: Understanding Floods
Sometimes, rivers can experience floods, which means the water level rises very high. The Muskoka Lakes region, where the Moon River is, has seen some big floods.
- 2013 Flood: In the spring of 2013, the area had what was called "the worst flooding in 100 years."
- 2019 Flood: However, the flood in 2019 was even bigger than the one in 2013.
Because of the severe flooding in 2019, the Minister of Transport Canada, Marc Garneau, issued a special order on April 30, 2019. This order stopped all boats, except for emergency vessels, from using the Moon River. On that day, the river was flowing incredibly fast, at about 361 cubic meters per second. To give you an idea, that's enough water to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool in less than seven seconds! Normally, the Moon River flows at about 5 cubic meters per second during the summer.
