Winisk River

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The Winisk River is a river in northern Ontario, Canada, that starts at Wunnummin Lake and flows east to Winisk Lake. From there it continues in a mostly northly direction to Hudson Bay. The Winisk River is 475 km (295 mi) long and has a drainage basin of 67,300 km² (26,000 sq mi) (source: Atlas of Canada). The name is from Cree origin meaning "groundhog".

The river is remote and not accessible by road. Only a few isolated communities are along the river: Wunnumin Lake First Nation (on same lake), Webequie (on Winisk Lake) and Peawanuck (about 30km from its end). It is characterized by strong currents and whitewater while flowing off the Canadian Shield into the Hudson Bay lowlands. Here the river becomes broad.

[edit] Tributaries

Major tributaries of the Winisk River include:

Pipestone River
Asheweig River
Shamattawa River

[edit] Winisk River Waterway Provincial Park

Winisk River Provincial Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Location	Ontario, Canada
Nearest city	Peawanuck, Ontario
Area	1,411 km² (545 sq mi)
Governing body	Ontario Parks

For most of the length of the Winisk River and its banks, from Winisk Lake to the Polar Bear Provincial Park, has been designated a provincial waterway park. It is a non-operating park, meaning no fees are charged and no visitor facilities or services are present. Visitors must be experienced in travelling through isolated wilderness and skilled in handling whitewater.