Thunder Bay (Ontario landform) facts for kids
Thunder Bay is a very large bay located on the northern shore of Lake Superior in Ontario, Canada. It's part of the Thunder Bay District. This bay is about 50 kilometers (31 miles) long and 22 kilometers (14 miles) wide.
To the east, the bay is bordered by the Sibley Peninsula. At the southern tip of this peninsula is a place called Thunder Cape. This cape is like a natural gate for ships entering the bay from the east.
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The Sleeping Giant
The Sibley Peninsula is famous for its unique rock formations. These flat-topped hills (called mesas) and rock layers (called sills) look like a giant person sleeping on their back when you view them from Thunder Bay. This is why they are known as the Sleeping Giant. It's a very famous landmark in the area!
Islands and Rivers
Thunder Bay is home to several interesting islands and has many rivers flowing into it.
Islands in the Bay
Some of the notable islands you can find here include:
- Pie Island and nearby Flatland Island
- Welcome Islands
- Caribou Island
Rivers Flowing In
Many rivers empty their waters into Thunder Bay, such as:
- Kaministiquia River
- Neebing River
- McIntyre River
- Current River
- MacKenzie River (about 18 kilometers east of the city)
- Blende River
- Wild Goose Creek
- Blind Creek
A Busy Port
The city of Thunder Bay has a very important harbor. It's Canada's westernmost port on the Great Lakes. This means it's the last stop for ships traveling through the Great Lakes system from the east. It's a key place for shipping goods!
How Thunder Bay Got Its Name
The name "Thunder Bay" has a cool history! The Ojibwe people, who are Indigenous to this area, called the bay Animikie. This word means "thunder" in their language.
Later, French explorers came to the area and called it Baie du Tonnerre, which also means "Bay of Thunder" in French. When English speakers arrived, they simply translated it to "Thunder Bay."
In 1871, the bay gave its name to the new Thunder Bay District. Then, in 1970, two cities, Port Arthur and Fort William, joined together and decided to call their new combined city "Thunder Bay" as well.
| North American Great Lakes |
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| Lake Superior - Lake Michigan - Lake Huron - Lake Erie - Lake Ontario |
