Whitesand River (Hewitson River)

The Whitesand River is a river in Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada, part of the Hewitson River system. Another river in Thunder Bay District with the same name, Whitesand River (Lake Nipigon), lies further northwest and flows into Lake Nipigon.

Course

The river arises from two source forks. The east fork (listed as the primary source in the Infobox) begins in a small unnamed lake just upstream of North Whitesand Lake at an elevation of 527 metres (1,729 ft). The west fork (listed as the secondary source in the Infobox) begins in a small unnamed lake at an elevation of 502 metres (1,647 ft). The forks join at 48°58′49″N 87°21′49″W / 48.98028°N 87.36361°W / 48.98028; -87.36361 at an elevation of 472 metres (1,549 ft) at the site of a mine.

The Whitesand River then travels downstream via a series of lakes, including Cleaver Lake, Zenith Lake, Demijohn Lake, Gumboot Lake, Longcanoe Lake and Hornblende Lake. It then takes in its left tributary Ross Creek at Lyne Lake at 48°53′17″N 87°21′14″W / 48.88806°N 87.35389°W / 48.88806; -87.35389 at an elevation of 295 metres (968 ft), and reaches its mouth at Whitesand Lake at an elevation of 283 metres (928 ft) just north of Highway 17. The mouth is about 8 kilometres (5 mi) east northeast of the community of Rossport and 10 kilometres (6 mi) northwest of the community of Schreiber. The Whitesand River's waters flow from Whitesand Lake via the Hewitson River over the Rainbow Falls into Lake Superior.

Economy

An access road to the mine runs from Highway 17 along the river. A campground of Rainbow Falls Provincial Park is on the south side of Whitesand Lake opposite the mouth of the Whitesand River.

See also

• List of rivers of Ontario

References