Whiteshell River

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Whiteshell River
river mouth
Location
Provinces	Ontario, Manitoba
Physical characteristics
Source	Engineer Lake[1]
• location	Ontario
• coordinates	49°43′20″N 94°55′41″W / 49.72222°N 94.92806°W / 49.72222; -94.92806[1]
• elevation	377 m (1,237 ft)[1]
Mouth	Nutimik Lake[1]
• location	Manitoba
• coordinates	50°08′59″N 95°39′52″W / 50.14972°N 95.66444°W / 50.14972; -95.66444[1]
• elevation	270 m (890 ft)[1]
Basin features
Progression	Winnipeg River→ Lake Winnipeg→ Nelson River→ Hudson Bay
Tributaries
• left	McGillivray Creek Hansons Creek Trail Creek One Stone Creek Rennie River Fraser Creek [1]
• right	Longpine Creek Gundy Creek Nora Creek North Cross Creek Fisher Creek [1]
Waterbodies	Bwan Lake Moth Lake Royal Lake West Hawk Lake Caddy Lake South Cross Lake North Cross Lake Sailing Lake Mallard Lake Lone Island Lake Jessica Lake White Lake Betula Lake [1]

The Whiteshell River is one of the major rivers in Whiteshell Provincial Park, in southeastern Manitoba, Canada, near the Ontario border. This river is close to some petroform sites that are about 2000 years old or older. The name "whiteshell" is in reference to the Meegis or cowry shells used by Ojibwa peoples in their ceremonies and teachings, especially the Midewiwin, and as recorded in their birch bark scrolls.

The river was used for thousands of years as a major canoe route by native peoples. The Winnipeg and Whiteshell Rivers are the only waterways to easily travel between Lake Winnipeg and Lake Superior. The copper culture period of about 4,000 years ago involved the trade of copper from the north shore of Lake Superior to the Whiteshell Provincial Park area and other areas now known as Manitoba and northwestern Ontario. Manitoba also has prehistoric quartz mines to the far north, and evidence of ancient quartz mining also exists along the Winnipeg River area. Quartz, copper, and other minerals were used to make prehistoric arrow heads, tools, scrapers, spears, and artwork.

Whiteshell Provincial Park is still a popular area for wild rice harvesting, as it was for thousands of years. Today this river system area is popular for canoeing, hiking, swimming, fishing, boating, and many cottages are located along the lakes and rivers of the park.

The geography and geology of the area consists of Canadian Shield granite rock ridges, cliffs, boreal forest, bogs, and only one main road through the park. It is a very wild and pristine area with many deer, bear, wolves, coyotes, bald eagles, fox, cougars, lynx, and other wildlife.