Whiteshell River
{{More citations needed|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Whiteshell River
| native_name =
| name_other =
| name_etymology =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| image_alt =
| map =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| map_alt =
| pushpin_map = Canada Manitoba
| pushpin_map_size = 300px
| pushpin_map_caption= river mouth
| pushpin_map_alt =
| subdivision_type1 = Provinces
| subdivision_name1 = Ontario, Manitoba
| subdivision_type2 =
| subdivision_name2 =
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 =
| length =
| width_min =
| width_avg =
| width_max =
| depth_min =
| depth_avg =
| depth_max =
| discharge1_location=
| discharge1_min =
| discharge1_avg =
| discharge1_max =
| source1 = Engineer Lake
| source1_location = Ontario
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|49|43|20|N|94|55|41|W}}{{cite web |title=The Atlas of Canada - Toporama |url=https://atlas.gc.ca/toporama |website=Canada.ca |publisher=Natural Resources Canada, Government of Canada |access-date=27 June 2022 |date=13 December 2013}}
| source1_elevation = {{Convert|377|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| mouth = Nutimik Lake
| mouth_location = Manitoba
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|50|08|59|N|95|39|52|W|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{Convert|270|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| progression = Winnipeg River→ Lake Winnipeg→ Nelson River→ Hudson Bay
| river_system =
| basin_size =
| basin_landmarks =
| basin_population =
| tributaries_left = {{hlist|McGillivray Creek|Hansons Creek|Trail Creek|One Stone Creek|Rennie River|Fraser Creek}}
| tributaries_right = {{hlist|Longpine Creek|Gundy Creek|Nora Creek|North Cross Creek|Fisher Creek}}
| waterbodies = {{hlist|Bwan Lake|Moth Lake|Royal Lake|West Hawk Lake|Caddy Lake|South Cross Lake|North Cross Lake|Sailing Lake|Mallard Lake|Lone Island Lake|Jessica Lake|White Lake|Betula Lake}}
| waterfalls =
| bridges =
| ports =
| custom_label =
| custom_data =
| extra =
}}
The Whiteshell River is one of the major rivers in Whiteshell Provincial Park, in southeastern Manitoba, Canada, near the Ontario border. This river is close to some petroform sites that are about 2000 years old or older. The name "whiteshell" is in reference to the Meegis or cowry shells used by Ojibwa peoples in their ceremonies and teachings, especially the Midewiwin, and as recorded in their birch bark scrolls.
The river was used for thousands of years as a major canoe route by native peoples. The Winnipeg and Whiteshell Rivers are the only waterways to easily travel between Lake Winnipeg and Lake Superior. The copper culture period of about 4,000 years ago involved the trade of copper from the north shore of Lake Superior to the Whiteshell Provincial Park area and other areas now known as Manitoba and northwestern Ontario. Manitoba also has prehistoric quartz mines to the far north, and evidence of ancient quartz mining also exists along the Winnipeg River area. Quartz, copper, and other minerals were used to make prehistoric arrow heads, tools, scrapers, spears, and artwork.
Whiteshell Provincial Park is still a popular area for wild rice harvesting, as it was for thousands of years. Today this river system area is popular for canoeing, hiking, swimming, fishing, boating, and many cottages are located along the lakes and rivers of the park.
The geography and geology of the area consists of Canadian Shield granite rock ridges, cliffs, boreal forest, bogs, and only one main road through the park. It is a very wild and pristine area with many deer, bear, wolves, coyotes, bald eagles, fox, cougars, lynx, and other wildlife.
Fish
Fish habitat in the river includes short areas of fast flowing water with rapids and small waterfalls, shallow and deep water lakes and slow flowing meanders through bogs. The clear water supports beds of underwater vegetation. 61 of the 79 native fish species found in Manitoba are recorded from the Winnipeg River drainage basin of which the Whiteshell River is a part.{{cite book |last1=Stewart |first1=Kenneth W. |last2=Watkinson |first2=Douglas A. |title=Freshwater Fishes of Manitoba |date=2004 |publisher=University of Manitoba Press |location=Winnipeg |isbn=9780887556784}} Betula Lake, Jessica Lake, and Lone Island Lake are important traditional fishing areas for Manitoba First Nations peoples.{{cite web |title=TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE & LAND USE STUDY For the WR-1 Nuclear Reactor In Situ Decommissioning Project api migizik pii pa giiot when eagles call Black River First Nation, Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, & Hollow Water First Nation Final Report |url=https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/documents/p80124/133046E.pdf |access-date=27 June 2022 |page=29 |date=November 5, 2019 |quote=Several lakes in the Whiteshell were also key fishing areas including Lone Island Lake, Betula Lake, and Jessica Lake.}} A marine glacial relict, the Deepwater sculpin is found in West Hawk Lake.{{cite web |last1=Murray |first1=L. |last2=Papst |first2=M. H. |last3=Reist |first3=J. D. |title=First Record of the Deepwater Sculpin, Myoxocephalus thompsonii, from George Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park, Manitoba |url=https://www.canadianfieldnaturalist.ca/index.php/cfn/article/view/815 |website=The Canadian Field-Naturalist |access-date=27 June 2022 |pages=642–644 |language=en |doi=10.22621/cfn.v117i4.815 |date=2003|quote=The only other Manitoba lakes with known populations of Deepwater Sculpin are Lake Athapapuskow and West Hawk Lake.}} The river and its lakes are popular with recreational anglers. More than 650 Master Angler awards have been made for documented trophy catches in the Whiteshell River including Black crappie, Brown trout (introduced), Bullhead, Goldeye, Lake sturgeon, Mooneye, Northern pike, Rainbow trout (introduced), Rock bass, Sauger, Smallmouth bass, Walleye, and Yellow perch.{{cite web |title=Master Angler Record Book |url=https://anglers.travelmanitoba.com/master_angler_search.asp?angler_type=master_angler&angler_fname=&angler_lname=&angler_id=&award_id=&species_id=&lakeID=Whiteshell+River&fmon=&fday=&fyear=&tmon=&tday=&tyear=&method=&sortby=location&view=list&report=advanced&advanced=1&d=search#results |website=anglers.travelmanitoba.com |access-date=27 June 2022 |language=en}}
Bannock Point
Bannock Point is a rock ridge overlooking the place where the Rennie River flows into the Whiteshell River a short distance upstream from the place where the Whiteshell flows into the Winnipeg River.{{cite web |last1=Ledohowski |first1=Ed |last2=Goldsborough |first2=Gordon |title=Historic Sites of Manitoba: Boulder Mosaics / Bannock Point Petroforms (Whiteshell Provincial Park) |url=http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/bouldermosaics.shtml |website=www.mhs.mb.ca |publisher=Manitoba Historical Society |access-date=28 June 2022}} A plaque installed in 1959 near PR 307 marks the significance of the boulder mosaics or petroforms near this location.{{cite web |title=Provincial Plaques: Boulder Mosaics |url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/hrb/plaques/plaq0123.html |website=www.gov.mb.ca |publisher=Historic Resources Branch, Government of Manitoba |access-date=28 June 2022 |language=en}}
Gallery
File:West Hawk Lake Whiteshell Provincial Park Manitoba Canada Summer 2008 (7).JPG|West Hawk Lake Beachfront
File:Rainbow Falls.jpg|Rainbow Falls upstream of White Lake
File:CentennialTrailMcGillivrayCreek.jpg|McGillivray Creek in the autumn
File:Pine Point Rapids, Pine Point Trail, Whiteshell Provincial Park, Manitoba (492649) (9498763163).jpg|Pine Point Rapids downstream of Betula Lake
Jessica Lake from the boat launch 2022 June 23.jpg|Jessica Lake just before sunset
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/report/real_time_e.html?stn=05PG001 Real Time Hydrometric Data for Whiteshell River at outlet of Jessica Lake (05PG001), Government of Canada]
{{authority control}}
Category:Rivers of Kenora District