Batchawana Bay

Batchawana Bay
Batchawana Bay
Location in Ontario
LocationAlgoma District, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates46°52′55″N 84°28′59″W / 46.88194°N 84.48306°W / 46.88194; -84.48306
EtymologyBadjiwanung, Ojibwe for "swift water/current"
Part ofWhitefish Bay, Lake Superior
Primary inflows
Basin countriesCanada
IslandsBatchawana Island

Batchawana Bay is a small bay in Algoma District in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is on the eastern shore of Lake Superior, approximately 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of Sault Ste. Marie.

The name "Batchawana" is derived from the Ojibwe word obatchiwanang (or spelled badjiwanung), meaning "current at the strait" or "narrows and swift water there", and refers to the turbulent or bubbling waters flowing between Batchawana Island and Sand Point where the lake narrows and a strong current and undertow results. The Ojibwe believed this was caused by an underwater spirit about to surface.