York River (Ontario)

The York River is a river in Renfrew County, Hastings County and Haliburton County in Ontario, Canada.[1][2] The river is in the Saint Lawrence River drainage basin, and flows from the southern extension of Algonquin Provincial Park to the Madawaska River.

York River
Egan Chute on the York River, near Bancroft
Location of the mouth of the York River in southern Ontario
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
Regions
Counties
Physical characteristics
SourceYorkend Lake
 • locationDysart et al, Haliburton County, Central Ontario
 • coordinates45°18′01″N 78°20′21″W
 • elevation497 m (1,631 ft)
MouthMadawaska River
 • location
Madawaska Valley, Renfrew County, Eastern Ontario
 • coordinates
45°20′08″N 77°34′43″W
 • elevation
283 m (928 ft)
Basin features
River systemSaint Lawrence River drainage basin

Course

The river begins in the southern extension of Algonquin Provincial Park at Yorkend Lake, in geographic Clyde Township in the municipality of Dysart et al, Haliburton County.[2] It flows west out of the park through geographic Eyre Township and Harburn Township, then loops back east into the southernmost part of the park in geographic Bruton Township. It takes in the left tributary North York River just before Branch Lake, turns southeast, passes over the High Falls, and exits the park into Benoir Lake. It continues east into Baptiste Lake where it enters geographic Herschel Township[3] in the municipality of Hastings Highlands, Hastings County. The river leaves the lake south at the lake's southeast tip, controlled by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources-operated Baptiste Lake Dam,[4] enters the town of Bancroft, and passes over the Bancroft Light & Power Generating Station and dam. The river is crossed by Ontario Highway 28 and Ontario Highway 62 in the town centre, then turns east and northeast. It is crossed again by Ontario Highway 28, passes over Egan Chute and Fram Chute at Egan Chutes Provincial Park,[5] and briefly reenters Hastings Highlands at geographic Monteagle Township.[6] The rivers continues northeast into geographic Carlow Township in the municipality of Carlow/Mayo, passes over the Conroy Rapids and enters the Conroy Marsh, a 24 km2 (9 sq mi) provincially significant wetland. As the river flows through the marsh, it first passes into the municipality of Brudenell, Lyndoch and Raglan, Renfrew County, then takes in the right tributary Little Mississippi River. The river then reaches its mouth as a right tributary of the Madawaska River in geographic Radcliffe Township[7] in the municipality of Madawaska Valley, near the community of Mayhews Landing. The Madawska River flows via the Ottawa River to the Saint Lawrence River.

History

In the second half of the 19th century, the river was used to transport logs out of the forests surrounding its watershed. Now, parts of this river have been turned into a provincial waterway park as well as a provincial nature reserve (at Egan Chute).

Natural history

The river alternates between fast flowing portions in steep sided gorges to slower movement through post-glacial sand flats. In these are changes in the river course has created ox-bows and abandoned ox-bows that are now ponds and wetlands.

Group of Seven artist A. J. Casson painted a number of scenes from this region, including one titled "Conroy Marsh" and several along the York River itself.

Iron foot-bridge over the York river, in the town of Bancroft

Waterfalls
  • Egan Chute
  • Farm Chute
  • High Falls, Baptiste Lake (somewhat less dramatic as a result of the High Falls Dam which regulates the water level for Baptiste Lake)
  • High Falls, Benoir Lake

Tributaries
  • Little Mississippi River (right)
  • Papineau Creek (left)
  • Alder Creek (left)
  • Salmon Trout Creek (left)
  • Mallard Creek (right)
  • Bresnahan Creek (left)
  • Bentley Creek (left)
  • L'Amable Creek (right)
  • Clark Creek (right)
  • Faraday Creek (right)
  • Baptiste Lake
    • McGarry Creek (left)
    • Hound Creek (left)
    • Hudson Creek (right)
    • Hamilton Creek (left)
    • Lighthouse Creek (left)
    • Chainy Creek (left)
  • Elephant Creek (right)
  • Benoir Lake
    • Allen Creek (right)
    • Fourcorner Creek (right)
    • Kingscote Creek (right)
  • Mink Creek (left)
  • North York River (left)
  • Clyde Creek (left)

See also

References
  1. "York River". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  2. "York River". Atlas of Canada. Natural Resources Canada. 2010-02-04. Retrieved 2012-10-21. Shows the course of the river highlighted on a topographic map.
  3. "Herschel" (PDF). Geology Ontario - Historic Claim Maps. Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  4. "Madawaska River Water Management Plan" (PDF). Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources / Ontario Power Generation. December 2009. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  5. "Egan Chutes". Ontario Parks. 2003-02-27. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  6. "Monteagle" (PDF). Geology Ontario - Historic Claim Maps. Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  7. "Radcliffe" (PDF). Geology Ontario - Historic Claim Maps. Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry. Retrieved 2012-10-21.

Sources
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