Severn River (Georgian Bay)

The Severn River is a river in central Ontario, Canada. Its headwaters are located at the north end of Lake Couchiching. It drains Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe. Its main tributary is the Black River.^[1] The river flows generally northwest via Sparrow Lake and drains into Georgian Bay, a large bay of Lake Huron.^[2]

The Severn forms part of the inland canal system known as the Trent–Severn Waterway, which links Port Severn on Georgian Bay with Trenton on Lake Ontario via the Trent Canal.^[3][4] From the middle of the 19th century up until the completion of the canal in 1920, the Severn was used to transport logs to sawmills down river. There are two hydroelectric stations at falls located on its course.

The central Ontario Severn River is only 30 km (19 mi) long. The river services seasonal cottagers, as many of the properties are accessible only by boat. Some year-round residents live on the Severn. The river sees many yachts/cruisers travelling from Lake Couchiching to Georgian Bay, or vice versa.

Located on the Severn River, Big Chute Marine Railway is a rare operating marine-railway. The Elbląg Canal in Poland is similar. The Big Chute is a major tourist attraction, and provides access to and from Gloucester Pool, below the Severn. The River sees many overnight campers, although overnight camping is forbidden on many sections of the Severn, including Lost Channel (location of the old fire tower) and Pretty Channel. This law is enforced by police supervision.

Alexander Macdonell and John Graves Simcoe travelled down the length of the river in October 1793, the former recording in his diary that it was then known as the Matchetache.^[5]

• List of Ontario rivers

44°51′09″N 79°31′54″W / 44.85258°N 79.53157°W / 44.85258; -79.53157