Moon River (Ontario)

For other places with the same name, see Moon River (disambiguation).

The Moon River is a river in the municipalities of Georgian Bay and Muskoka Lakes, District Municipality of Muskoka in Central Ontario, Canada. It flows from Lake Muskoka at the community of Bala to Georgian Bay, Lake Huron, south of Parry Sound. The name of the river is thought to be derived from its Ojibwa name moonz-ziibi, which means "moose river".

Course

Bala Falls at the head of the Moon River

The river begins at the Bala Falls in the community of Bala, where those falls drain Lake Muskoka. The river heads northeast, passes through Moon Chute, at which point the Musquash River diverges to the south. The river continues northeast and passes into Wahta Mohawk Territory, flows over the Island Portage Falls, takes in the right tributary Haggart Creek, and passes into the municipality of Georgian Bay. The Moon River continues northeast, flows over Jack Knife Rapids then under Ontario Highway 400, and passes through Moon River Conservation Reserve. It enters the Lower Moon River Conservation Reserve (which continues to the river mouth), passes over the Twin Rapids, flows past the community of Moon River, and reaches its mouth at Moon River Bay on Georgian Bay, Lake Huron.

The section of the Moon River from Bala to Moon Chute and the Musquash River were officially considered to be a continuation of the Muskoka River until 1968.

Natural history

This area around Moon River is known to be the home of the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, one of the few rattlesnake species found in Canada.

See also

• List of rivers of Ontario