Magpie River (Ontario)

The Magpie River is a river in Algoma District, northeastern Ontario, Canada, The river empties into Michipicoten Bay on Lake Superior near the town of Wawa. The river drains an area of about 1,900 square kilometres (734 sq mi).

Magpie River Rivière Magpie
Magpie River near Dubreuilville
Location of the mouth of the Magpie River in Ontario
Native name	Mutuhekau Shipu (Innu)
Location
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
Region	Northeastern Ontario
District	Algoma
Physical characteristics
Source	Upper Magpie Lake
• coordinates	48°38′05″N 84°37′18″W
• elevation	420 m (1,380 ft)
Mouth	Lake Superior
• coordinates	47°56′02″N 84°50′59″W
• elevation	180 m (590 ft)
Basin size	1,900 km2 (730 sq mi)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Michipicoten River

Course

The river begins at Upper Magpie Lake at an elevation of 420 metres (1,378 ft) and flows north then northeast through a series of lakes including Wejinabikun Lake and North Wejinabikun Lake, to a point at 48°43′24″N 84°33′30″W at an elevation of 357 metres (1,171 ft), before turning southeast to enter Mosambik Lake at an elevation of 347 metres (1,138 ft). The river exits at the north end of the lake and heads further north, and reaches a point as far north as 48°43′38″N 84°29′38″W at an elevation of 348 metres (1,142 ft), before heading east southeast into the northeast corner of Esnagi Lake. From the north end of Esnagi Lake, the Five Mile Portage leads north, over Five Mile Creek, to Five Mile Bay on Kabinakagami Lake on the Kabinakagami River, part of the Albany River system, which leads north to James Bay. An alternate route to James Bay is to take the further Pine Portage from Kabinakagami Lake then up the Oba River to the Albany Forks, from which the Mattawitchewan River flows downstream as part of the Missinaibi and Moose rivers into the bay.

At Esnagi Lake, the river takes in the right tributary Tripoli Creek. The Magpie river then leaves Esnagi Lake at the south end where the Canadian Pacific Railway transcontinental mainline crosses. It continues south, passes over the Jean Falls, and takes in the left tributary Peckerwood Creek at an elevation of 339 metres (1,112 ft). The river takes in the left tributary Hobon Creek just upstream of the community of Dubreuilville. There, it takes in the left tributary Herman Creek, is crossed by Highway 519, and takes a sharp turn west. The Soderston Creek enters from the right, and the river passes over the Toolong Rapids, where it once again heads south. The Evans Creek enters from the right, and the Magpie River passes over the Cedar Falls, then further downstream the Steephill Falls. The river takes in the right tributary Catfish Creek, and reaches Wawa, where it is crossed by the Algoma Central Railway branch line to Michipicoten Harbour and Highway 17. The river then passes over the Magpie Falls, and takes in the Michipicoten River just before its mouth at Michipicoten Bay on Lake Superior at the site of Michipicoten Provincial Park.

Economy

There are also several hydroelectric plants on the river. The largest hydroelectric is located at Steephill Falls.

Scenic High Falls on the Magpie River

Tributaries

• Michipicoten River (left)
• Catfish Creek (right)
• Evans Creek (right)
• Soderston Creek (right)
• Herman Creek (left)
• Hobon Creek (left)
• Peckerwood Creek (left)
• Tripoli Creek (right)

Legal person

To protect the natural landmark, the Innu Council of Ekuanitshit and the Minganie Regional County Municipality declared the Mutuhekau Shipu a legal person in 2021. Now the river has nine rights, among them the right to flow, maintain biodiversity, be free from pollution, and to sue.

See also

• List of rivers of Ontario

References

• "Magpie River". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
• "Toporama - Topographic Map Sheets 41N15, 42C2, 42C7, 42C10". Atlas of Canada. Natural Resources Canada. Archived from the original on 2010-02-10. Retrieved 2010-02-09.