User:LakeAthapap/sandbox
The Grass River is a historically important waterway in the Hudson Bay drainage basin in the Northern Region of Manitoba, Canada. It begins at the Cranberry Lakes approximately 27 km (17 mi) east of Cranberry Portage and runs northeast 500 km (310 mi) to its mouth on the Nelson River. The river was an important avenue for earlier European explorers and was part of the "Upper Tract" of the fur trade into Canadian interior.
Route
The headwaters of the Grass River are in Third Cranberry Lake, approximately 27km northeast of Cranberry Portage. It then flows north to Elbow Lake, and turns sharply south to Iskwasum Lake after which it continues easterly to Reed Lake. This portion of the river is within Grass River Provincial Park.[1] After Reed Lake, the river enters Tramping Lake, followed by the Wekusko Falls, Wekusko Lake and eastwards to Setting Lake.[2] The river then passes Sasagin Rapids Provincial Wayside Park, and Pisew Falls Provincial Wayside Park. It then enters Paint Lake and the Paint Lake Provincial Park.[3] , the waterfall walkers of Wekusko, Pisew and Kwasitchewan Falls,
Access points
Description
The remote river flows through Churchill River Upland portion of the Midwestern Canadian Shield forests and is surrounded by mixed forest with stands of black spruce, white spruce, jack pine, and trembling aspen. The shoreline is characterized by steeply sloping irregular rock ridges and poorly drained areas of muskeg.[4]
The Grass River area is largely pristine and home to moose, black bear, lynx, wolf, and beaver. Bird species include raven, common loon, spruce grouse, bald eagle and hawk owl. Many portions of the river are not easily accessible, but there is some trapping, hunting, and recreational fishing activity.[5]
The Grass River basin is a popular fishing areas containing Burbot, Lake Whitefish, Northern Pike, Sucker, Walleye and Yellow Perch.{ADD REFERENCE FROM PARK}
History
Rock paintings
The river was a traditional route for Cree hunters taking their furs to York Factory at Hudson Bay.[6] .
The first recorded Europeans to travel the Grass River was the Hudson Bay Company fur traders and explorers Joseph Smith and Isaac Batt. In 1763, from York Factory they travelled up the Grass River to Cranberry Portage and then over to Lake Athapapuskow and down into the Saskatchewan River. Smith died on the return journey.[7]. In 1774, explorer Samuel Hearne paddled up the Grass River to establish Cumberland House. In the summer of 1794, surveyor and explorer [[David Thompson (explorer)|David Thompson'] travelled up the Grass River for the first of many times in his career mapping the interior of North America.[8]
First recorded as "Grass River" on David Thompson's map of 1813.[9] Fur trade posts
First surveyed
The noted explorer and surveyor Joseph Tyrrell recorded that the Cree name for the river was Muskuskow' Sipi, meaning "Grassy River".[10]
Notable travellers
Mines
Canoe Route
Popular wilderness canoe route
See also
References
- ^ "CanMatrix - 63K - Cormorant Lake, Manitoba, Saskatchewan". Natural Resources Canada. July 29, 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ "CanMatrix - 063J - Weskusko Lake, Manitoba". Natural Resources Canada. October 23, 2008. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
- ^ "CanMatrix - 063O - Nelson House, Manitoba". Natural Resources Canada. July 21, 2008. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
- ^ Smith, R.E. (1998). Terrestrial Ecozones, Ecoregions, and Ecodistricts of Manitoba (PDF). Winnipeg, Manitoba: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. p. 88. ISBN 0-662-27446-6.
- ^ "Ecoregions of Canada: Churchill River Uplands". Environment Canada. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
- ^ "Grass River History". Great Canadian Rivers. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
- ^ Cooke, Alan; et al. (May 1971). "Chronological list of expeditions and historical events in northern Canada. IV. 1763–89". Polar Record. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
{{cite journal}}: Explicit use of et al. in:|first=(help) - ^ Thompson, David (1962). David Thompson's narrative, 1784-1812. The Champlain society. p. xc.
- ^ Thompson, David (1813). Map of the North-West Territories of the Province of Canada. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
- ^ Tyrrell, J.B. (1915). Algonquin Indian Names of Places in Northern Canada (PDF). Toronto: University Press. p. 220. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
