Makobe River

The Makobe River is a river in northeastern Ontario, Canada.^[1] It is in the Saint Lawrence River drainage basin, and is a left tributary of the Montreal River.

Makobe River
Location of the mouth of the Makobe River in Ontario
Location
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
Region	Northeastern Ontario
District	Timiskaming
Physical characteristics
Source	Makobe Lake
• location	Whitson Township
• coordinates	47°28′16″N 80°23′42″W
• elevation	367 m (1,204 ft)
Mouth	Montreal River
• location	Elk Lake
• coordinates	47°43′54″N 80°19′55″W
• elevation	280 m (920 ft)
Basin features
River system	Saint Lawrence River drainage basin

Course

The river begins at Makobe Lake in Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park in geographic Whitson Township^[2] in Unorganized West Timiskaming District and flows north into Banks Lake and into geographic Banks Township.^[3] It continues north, entering 1,420-hectare (3,500-acre) Makobe-Grays River Provincial Park^[4][5] (a waterway park along both sides of the river) and straddling the border with geographic Wallis Township adjacent to the west.^[6] The river continues north, enters geographic Willet Township,^[7] takes in the left tributary Crane Creek, then the right tributary Cucumber Creek, and enters incorporated James Township.^[8][9] It takes in the left tributary Bear River, exits Makobe-Grays River Provincial Park just before the community of Elk Lake, and reaches its mouth at the Montreal River. The Montreal River flows via Lake Timiskaming and the Ottawa River to the Saint Lawrence River.

The river flows over Canadian Shield bedrock through a narrow north-south valley, characterized by a number of small waterfalls and rapids. At Alexander Lake, the river widens out into shoreline wetlands with shrub and grass fens and black ash swamp.^[10]

In spring, the river's high water level create numerous Class I and II rapids, suitable for whitewater canoeing; while it becomes mostly flatwater with some moving water in the summer, requiring lining and numerous portages when canoeing.^[5]

Provincial parks

Makobe-Grays River Provincial Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Location	Timiskaming District
Coordinates	47°37′34″N 80°23′38″W[4]
Area	1,427.00 ha (5.5097 sq mi)[5]
Designation	Waterway
Established	1985
Governing body	Ontario Parks
www.ontarioparks.com/park/makobegraysriver

Almost the entire Makobe River is protected inside provincial parks: most of it in Makobe-Grays River Provincial Park, and its headwaters and source in Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park.

The Makobe-Grays River Provincial Park is a linear waterway park that includes a 200 metres (660 ft) wide strip of land on both sides of the Makobe River (although the park is also named after the Grays River, this river is entirely within Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park^[11]). It was established in 1985 and protects a remote whitewater river that is used for wilderness canoe camping. The park's notable features include numerous small waterfalls, scenic ravines, and fishing opportunities.^[5]

It is an operating park, requiring permits for wilderness camping. Facilities include 9 backcountry campsites. The park can be used for recreational activities such as boating, backcountry camping, canoeing, fishing, swimming, and hunting.^[5]

Natural history

Besides Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park and Makobe-Grays River Provincial Park, the drainage basin also includes Makobe Grays Ice Margin Conservation Reserve,^[12] a 903-hectare (2,230-acre) reserve on either side of the river around and upstream of the Crane Creek inflow, that protects "unique spruce-topped moraine ridges" and "unique jack pine and poplar communities found on the Makobe Grays end moraine".^[13]

References

1. "Makobe River". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
2. "Whitson" (PDF). Geology Ontario - Historic Claim Maps. Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
3. "Banks" (PDF). Geology Ontario - Historic Claim Maps. Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
4. "Makobe-Grays River Provincial Park". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
5. "Makobe-Grays River". www.ontarioparks.com. Ontario Parks. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
6. "Wallis" (PDF). Geology Ontario - Historic Claim Maps. Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
7. "Willet" (PDF). Geology Ontario - Historic Claim Maps. Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
8. "James". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
9. "James" (PDF). Geology Ontario - Historic Claim Maps. Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-01-04. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
10. "Temagami Area Park Management Plan for Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater, Makobe-Grays River, Obabika River, Solace and Sturgeon River Provincial Parks". ontario.ca. Ministry of Natural Resources Ontario. 2007. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
11. "Grays River". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
12. "Makobe Grays Ice Margin Conservation Reserve". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
13. "3.4. C1608 Makobe Grays Ice Margin". Resource Management Plan for Bob Lake, East Lady Evelyn Lake, Jim Edwards Lake, Makobe Grays Ice Margin, North Yorston, Pinetorch Lake, Smith Lake and Sugar Lake Conservation Reserves. Ministry of Natural Resources of Ontario. 2007-06-01. Retrieved 2017-01-03. ISBN 978-1-4249-4256-5 (print version) ISBN 978-1-4249-4257-2 (PDF version)

Other map sources:

• Map 12 (PDF) (Map). 1 : 1,600,000. Official road map of Ontario. Ministry of Transportation of Ontario. 2015-01-01. Retrieved 2017-01-03.
• Restructured municipalities - Ontario map #4 (Map). Restructuring Maps of Ontario. Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. 2006. Retrieved 2017-01-03.