Wanapitei River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wanapitei River |
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Wanapitei River near Wanup
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 Location of the mouth of the Wanapitei River in Ontario
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| Region | Northeastern Ontario |
| District | Sudbury |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Scotia Lake 10 km west of McKee's Camp 399 m (1,309 ft) 47°07′54″N 81°23′27″W / 47.13167°N 81.39083°W |
| River mouth | French River 8 km WSW of Hartley Bay 182 m (597 ft) 46°01′34″N 80°51′37″W / 46.02611°N 80.86028°W |
| Length | 120 km (75 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Great Lakes Basin |
| Tributaries |
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The Wanapitei River (French: Rivière Wanapitei) is a cool river in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. Its waters are part of the huge Great Lakes Basin. This means the river's water eventually flows into the Great Lakes. The Wanapitei River is a branch, or "tributary," of the French River.
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Exploring the Wanapitei River
The Wanapitei River is about 120 kilometers (75 miles) long. It's a popular spot for people who love to go canoeing in the wilderness.
Where the River Begins and Ends
The river starts at a small lake called Scotia Lake. This lake is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of Halfway Lake Provincial Park. From there, the river flows north and then east. It picks up water from two smaller streams along the way.
After a while, the river turns south. About 60 kilometers (37 miles) later, it flows into Lake Wanapitei. This lake is in the northeastern part of a larger area called Greater Sudbury. The river then continues flowing south from the bottom of the lake. Finally, it joins the French River. This meeting point is close to where the French River flows into Georgian Bay on Lake Huron.
How the River Got Its Name
The name Wanapitei comes from the Ojibwa word waanabidebiing. This word means "concave-tooth [shaped] water." It describes the special shape of Lake Wanapitei. There's even a community nearby called Wahnapitae, which got its name from the river. But remember, the correct spelling for both the lake and the river is Wanapitei.
Powering Homes with Water
The Wanapitei River helps make electricity! A company called Ontario Power Generation runs three special stations on the river. These are called hydroelectric generating stations. They use the power of the flowing water to create electricity. There's also a control dam at Wanapitei Lake. This dam helps manage the water levels in the lake.
A Bridge Over the River
On June 2, 2013, something unusual happened at the river. A train bridge crossing the Wanapitei River near a place called Wanup collapsed. This caused a train to go off its tracks.
