Nipigon, Ontario
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| Township of Nipigon, Ontario | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | Canada  |
| Province | Ontario  |
| Region | Northwestern Ontario |
| District | Thunder Bay District |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Richard Harvey |
| Area | |
| - Land | 109.14 km² (42.1 sq mi) |
| Population (2006) | |
| - Total | 1,752 |
| - Density | 16.1/km² (41.7/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Postal Code | P0T 2J0 |
| Area code(s) | 807 |
| Website: [1] | |
Nipigon is a township in Thunder Bay District, Northwestern Ontario, Canada, located on the most northern point of Lake Superior and situated along the west side of the Nipigon River and south of the small Lake Helen running between Lake Nipigon and Lake Superior. The bay is situated to the north and has several islands. Lake Nipigon is located about 20 to 30 km north of Nipigon. Nipigon is passed by the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 17) and forms a T-junction with Highway 11 and is joined with Highway 17 westward. The Canadian Pacific rail runs through Nipigon. Other rail links point to Marathon, Ontario, which is also run by Canadian National.
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[edit] Economy
The chief industries in Nipigon are forest products, fishing, and tourism.
Nipigon is the ideal setting off point for fishing excursions onto Lake Superior and the Nipigon River System leading up to Lake Nipigon. Fish varieties common to this area include Atlantic Salmon, Lake Trout, Specked Trout (The Worlds largest Speckled Trout was caught in the Nipigon River in 1916, weighing in at 14.5lb (6.6Kg)), Rainbow trout, Walleye, Northern Pike and Perch. There are a number of Charter companies who cater to groups with skippers who have a profound knowledge of the waters and can usually land anglers right on top of the fish. Details are available through www.nipigon.net
[edit] Mill Fire
On February 6, 2007, a devastating fire ripped through Multiply Forest Products, burning the mill to the ground. The mill was the main employer in the town. Less than a month earlier workers at the mill had purchased it from Columbia Forest Products of Portland, Oregon. At the time of the sale, a $4-million modernization plan for the mill was also announced. More than 100 people were employed at the plant, which produced hardwood underlayment for vinyl, ceramic tile and laminate flooring.
A cause for the fire has yet to be determined.
[edit] Geography
For about 15 km, Highway 11 runs within Nipigon River and a lake. Nipigon is located NE of Thunder Bay and Minnesota, SW of Geraldton and Longlac, W of Marathon and NW of Sault Ste. Marie. The crater on Mars named Nipigon Crater or Crater Nipigon is named after this town.
Nipigon is surrounded with pine and other variety of forests. The power line connecting hydro from Lake Nipigon supplies electricity to Thunder Bay and area. The other power line runs between Thunder Bay and the rest of Ontario. Timbering has been common sporadically to the north, the northwest and further north within Lake Nipigon along with parts of the southwest which formed old forest roads to the northeast and north. The municipality of Greenstone lies to the north. A manufacturing plant lies to the south. Several other unincorporated municipalities were around Nipigon. A communications tower near Nipigon broadcasts a local radio station and television channels from Thunder Bay including CKPR (TBT) and CBQT.
[edit] Nearest places
- Thunder Bay, southwest
- Longlac, northeast
- Marathon, east
- Weather radar
