Montreal River (Wisconsin–Michigan)

For other rivers with the same name, including another one in Michigan, see Montreal River (disambiguation)
Montreal River
The Montreal River in Ironwood-Hurley in 2006. Wisconsin is at left; Michigan is at right.
Country United States
States Michigan, Wisconsin
Tributaries
 - left West Fork Montreal River
Source Pine Lake
 - location Oma, Wisconsin
 - elevation 1,611 ft (491 m) [1]
 - coordinates 46°16′11″N 90°08′51″W / 46.26972°N 90.14750°W / 46.26972; -90.14750 [2]
Mouth Lake Superior
 - location Oronto Bay
 - elevation 610 ft (186 m) [2]
 - coordinates 46°33′56″N 90°25′00″W / 46.56556°N 90.41667°W / 46.56556; -90.41667Coordinates: 46°33′56″N 90°25′00″W / 46.56556°N 90.41667°W / 46.56556; -90.41667 [2]
Length 47.8 mi (77 km) [3]
Basin 270 sq mi (699 km2) approx.[4]
Discharge for Saxon, Wisconsin
 - average 295.2 cu ft/s (8 m3/s) (2006)[4]

The Montreal River is a river flowing to Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the United States. It is 47.8 miles (76.9 km) long[3] and drains approximately 270 square miles (700 km2) in a forested region. For most of its length, the river's course defines a portion of the Wisconsin–Michigan border. The Ojibwe name for the river is Gaa-waasijiwaang, meaning "where there is whitewater".[5][6]

View on the Montreal River, 1870s

The Montreal River issues from Pine Lake in the town of Oma in eastern Iron County in northern Wisconsin. It flows initially northwardly to the boundary between Iron County and Gogebic County, Michigan, then northwestwardly along the state line, past the 'twin cities' of Hurley, Wisconsin and Ironwood, Michigan. Downstream of Ironwood the river passes over Saxon Falls and Superior Falls and enters Oronto Bay on the southwestern shore of Lake Superior, approximately 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Ironwood, at Michigan's westernmost point.[7][8]

There are four named waterfalls on the Montreal River. Starting below U.S. Route 2 and going downstream (north), they are Peterson Falls, Interstate Falls, Saxon Falls, and Superior Falls.[9]

The West Fork Montreal River[10] issues from Island Lake in central Iron County and flows 24.7 miles (39.8 km)[3] generally northwardly, roughly in parallel to the Montreal River, past the city of Montreal, Wisconsin. It flows into the Montreal River downstream of Hurley.[7] There are four named waterfalls on the West Fork Montreal River: Kimball Falls,[11] Rock Cut Falls,[12] Gile Falls,[13] and Spring Camp Falls.[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Geographic Names Information System. "Geographic Names Information System entry for Pine Lake (Feature ID #1571508)". Retrieved 2007-03-19.
  2. 1 2 3 Geographic Names Information System. "Geographic Names Information System entry for Montreal River (Feature ID #1579905)". Retrieved 2007-03-19.
  3. 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map, accessed May 1, 2012
  4. 1 2 United States Geological Survey. "USGS Surface-Water Annual Statistics for Wisconsin: USGS 04029990 Montreal River at Saxon Falls near Saxon, WI". Retrieved 2007-03-19.
  5. ↑ "Montreal River (origin of place name)". Dictionary of Wisconsin History. Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
  6. ↑ "Ojibwe Dictionary". Freelang. Retrieved 2007-03-24.
  7. 1 2 Wisconsin Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Me.: DeLorme. 1992. pp. 96, 104. ISBN 0-89933-247-1.
  8. ↑ Michigan Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Me.: DeLorme. 2003. p. 113. ISBN 0-89933-335-4.
  9. ↑ Geographic Names Information System. Feature IDs #2126325, 2126328, 1621529, 1621836. Retrieved on 2008-02-04.
  10. ↑ Geographic Names Information System. "Geographic Names Information System entry for West Fork Montreal River (Feature ID #1580753)". Retrieved 2007-03-19.
  11. ↑ Hurley Area Chamber of Commerce. "Hurley: Relax & Play at the Top of Wisconsin." Page 5. 2006. Annual Chamber of Commerce Visitor Guide.
  12. ↑ Lisi, Patrick J. "A Guide to Wisconsin's Waterfalls." Page 25. 1991. Wild Rivers Press. Oxford, Wisconsin.
  13. ↑ Hurley Area Chamber of Commerce. "Hurley: Relax & Play at the Top of Wisconsin." Page 4. 2006. Annual Chamber of Commerce Visitor Guide.
  14. ↑ Geographic Names Information System. Feature ID #1574607 [Spring Camp Falls]. Retrieved on 2008-04-11.
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