Madawaska River (Ontario)

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This article is about the Madawaska River in Ontario. For other rivers named Madawaska, see Madawaska River (disambiguation).

Upper Madawaska River at Whitney, Ontario.

The Madawaska River is a river in Ontario, Canada. The river is 230 km long and drains an area of 8,470 km².

It originates from Source Lake in the highlands of Algonquin Park and flows east, emptying into the Ottawa River at Arnprior.

The river's name comes from an Algonquin band of the region known as "Matouweskarini", meaning "people of the shallows". In the late 1800s, the river was used to transport lumber from the forested areas surrounding the river. Later, the river was used to generate hydroelectric power. Undammed sections of the river are also used for canoeing, kayaking and recreational fishing.

Tributaries include:

[edit] Provincial Parks

Two sections of the river are designated and protected as provincial waterway parks:

Upper Madawaska River Provincial Park - between Whitney and Madawaska; 10.85 km².
Lower Madawaska River Provincial Park - between Latchford Bridge and Griffith; 12 km².

Both parks are administered by Ontario Parks but non-operating, meaning there are no visitor facilities or services available. Both are ideal for whitewater canoeing.