The Attawapiskat River travels a distance of 748 kilometres (465 mi),[4] and has a drainage area of 50,500 square kilometres (19,498 sq mi).[4] It is the third largest river entirely in Ontario.
The source of the river is Attawapiskat Lake at an elevation of 241 metres (791 ft). The main rivers flowing into the lake that are thus part of the Attawapiskat River drainage basin are the Marten-Drinking River, the Otoskwin River and the Pineimuta River.
There are two outflows from the Attawapiskat Lake into the Attawapiskat River: a southern and a northern channel. The southern channel is named by the Atlas of Canada as the Attawapiskat River, and is the source location listed in the Infobox at right. The northern channel is named by the Atlas of Canada as the North Channel, and is the more easily navigated route for canoeing. The North Channel outflow from Attawapiskat Lake is at 52°11′35″N87°28′35″W / 52.19306°N 87.47639°W / 52.19306; -87.47639[5] and consists of two short streams that lead into Windsor Lake. The elevation of the river drops significantly along these two outflow channels, descending from the higher ground of the Canadian Shield to the flatter and more boggy Hudson Bay Lowlands. After a series of rapids, the North Channel rejoins the Attawapiskat River (the southern channel) at 52°06′04″N87°06′07″W / 52.10111°N 87.10194°W / 52.10111; -87.10194[6] at an elevation of 210 metres (689 ft).
At 52°56′32″N83°10′10″W / 52.94222°N 83.16944°W / 52.94222; -83.16944[10] at an elevation of 30 metres (98 ft) the Lawashi Channel begins and takes part of the Attawapiskat's flow into the Lawashi River at a point 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi) upstream of that river's mouth at James Bay.[10] The mouth of the Lawashi River is approximately 11 kilometres (7 mi) southeast of the mouth of the Attawapiskat.[10] After the Lawashi Channel branching, the main river continues east, past the community of Attawapiskat 10 kilometres (6 mi) upstream from the mouth,[10] and exits into the James Bay at the Akimiski Strait, across from Akimiski Island.[10]
Geology
Less than 100 kilometres (62 mi) from its mouth, the Attawapiskat has carved out several clusters of spectacular high limestoneislands, nicknamed by canoeists the "Birthday Cakes". The formations are unique to the region, the Swampy Cree (Omushkegowuk) word for which, tawâpiskâ (as "kâh-tawâpiskâk" in its Conjunct form and as "êh-tawâpiskât" in its Participle form), gives name to the river.[11]
Otoskwin/Attawapiskat River Provincial Park[12] includes parts of the river from Attawapiskat Lake to a point just upstream of the confluence with the Muketei River.
Since June 26, 2008, the De BeersVictor Diamond Mine, in the Attawapiskat kimberlite field, has operated near the river about 90 kilometres (56 mi) west of the community of Attawapiskat.[10][13] The mine was expected to produce 600,000 carats (120 kg) of diamonds a year.[14]
