Pukaskwa River
| Pukaskwa River | |
|---|---|
| Etymology | From the Ojibwa word "Pukasu" |
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| Region | Northern Ontario |
| Districts | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Gibson Lake |
| • location | Algoma District |
| • coordinates | 48°19′50″N 85°19′43″W / 48.33056°N 85.32861°W |
| • elevation | 464 m (1,522 ft) |
| Mouth | Lake Superior |
• location | Homer Township |
• coordinates | 48°00′14″N 85°53′33″W / 48.00389°N 85.89250°W |
• elevation | 183 m (600 ft) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Great Lakes Basin |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | East Pukaskwa River |
| • right | Fox River |
The Pukaskwa River is a river in Thunder Bay District and Algoma District in Northern Ontario, Canada. It is in the Great Lakes Basin and is a tributary of Lake Superior, which it enters at the south end of Pukaskwa National Park. It is a remote, pristine, free-flowing, medium-sized Shield river, with lots of whitewater, best travelled in spring.
A waterfall at Schist Falls, just upstream of the river mouth and with a drop of 24 metres (79 ft), can only be visited by travelling along the river.
The river's name is said to come from the Ojibwa word "Pukasu", which refers to cooking the marrow in the bones of animals. The legend is that a native of the area is said to have killed his wife, burned the bones and thrown them into the river.
The Pukaskwa River was featured in the artwork and films of Bill Mason, including Waterwalker (1984).