Muskrat River (Ontario)

Muskrat River
The Muskrat River at Pembroke, Ontario
Location of the mouth of the Muskrat River in Ontario
Location
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
County	Renfrew
Municipalities	Pembroke Whitewater Region (township)
Physical characteristics
Source	Edmunds Lake
• location	Township of Whitewater Region
• coordinates	45°33′48″N 76°43′58″W
• elevation	164 m (538 ft)
Mouth	Ottawa River
• location	Pembroke
• coordinates	45°49′45″N 77°06′49″W
• elevation	110 m (360 ft)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Indian River, Mud Creek, Snake River
• right	Buttermilk Creek

The Muskrat River is a river in Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada that flows into the Ottawa River at the city of Pembroke.

Course

The river begins at Edmunds Lake, one of the Champlain Trail Lakes and near the community of Garden of Eden, and heads northwest through other Champlain Trail lakes to reach the largest, Jeffrys Lake. It continues northwest, loops under Ontario Highway 17, and takes in the right tributary Buttermilk Creek just before reaching Muskrat Lake at the community of Cobden. There, the left tributary Snake River joins. The river exits the lake near the community of Meath Hill, and continues northwest, looping west and east again under Ontario Highway 17 while taking the left tributary Mud Creek at Mud Lake, and then takes in the left tributary Indian River before reaching its mouth at the Ottawa River at Pembroke.

Economy

The river once provided hydroelectric power for Pembroke.

Ecology

In the fall, thousands of swallows gather at the mouth of this river before continuing their migration south.

Tributaries

• Indian River (left)
• Mud Creek (left)
• Snake River (left)
• Buttermilk Creek (right)

See also

• List of rivers of Ontario

References

• "Muskrat River". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
• "Toporama - Topographic Map Sheets 31F10, 31F11, 31F14". Atlas of Canada. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2010-07-13.