Berens River

Berens River
Country Canada
Provinces Manitoba, Ontario
Part of Nelson River drainage basin
Tributaries
 - right Whitefish River
Source Unnamed lake
 - location Kenora District, Ontario
 - elevation 407 m (1,335 ft)
 - coordinates 51°28′03″N 92°38′18″W / 51.46750°N 92.63833°W
Mouth Lake Winnipeg
 - location Census Division 19, Northern Region, Manitoba
 - elevation 217 m (712 ft)
 - coordinates 52°21′25″N 97°03′04″W / 52.35694°N 97.05111°WCoordinates: 52°21′25″N 97°03′04″W / 52.35694°N 97.05111°W
Location of the mouth of the Berens River in Manitoba.
[1][2]

The Berens River is a river in the Provinces of Manitoba and Ontario, Canada. It flows west from an unnamed lake in Kenora District, Ontario and discharges its waters into Lake Winnipeg near the village and First Nation of Berens River, Manitoba. The river has a number of lakes along its course, and many rapids.[1]

History

The river has been a First Nations traditional hunting and fishing area for thousands of years. It was first travelled by European explorers in 1767, who descended the river to Lake Winnipeg after having crossed over from the Severn River.[3] The river was named for Joseph Berens, then governor or the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). Several HBC posts and one of the Northwest Company were established at the mouth, upriver, and even at the mouth of the Pigeon River further south, the first in 1814.[3] The river system became an HBC trade route.

Natural history

Berens River is one of the last remaining fresh water rivers in southern Canada with very little development, no major roads, and with woodland caribou habitat.


Transportation

The Ontario Government announced funding in 2009 for "…design, surveying, environmental assessments and other steps required before construction can begin" for a permanent bridge on the existing winter road between the all-weather road connecting to Ontario Highway 125 to the south and the Deer Lake First Nation, North Spirit Lake First Nation and Sandy Lake First Nation to the north.[4][5] The bridge would be located on the Berens River east and upstream of Berens Lake.[5]

Settlements

Tributaries

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Natural Resources Canada-Canadian Geographical Names (Berens River)". Retrieved 2014-08-29.
  2. "Atlas of Canada Toporama". Retrieved 2014-08-29.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Palmer, Gwen (Winter 1973). "Camperville and Duck Bay, Part 1 - Camperville, Berens River". Manitoba Pageant (Manitoba Historical Society) 18 (2). Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  4. "New Berens River Bridge Will Benefit First Nations". Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry. 2009-07-23. Retrieved 2010-08-19.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "District 1 - Kenora / Far West" (PDF). Northern Ontario Winter Roads Map. Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry]. 2010-07-22. Retrieved 2010-08-19.