Geography
The river follows inside an ancient fault line through the Algoma Highlands called the Mattawa Fault. This fault line marks the northern edge of an ancient rift valley, called the Ottawa-Bonnechere Graben, and still causes minor earthquakes in the area. From Lake Talon to Mattawa the river flows through a rock-walled canyon up to 150 metres (490 ft) in places.
Tributaries include the:
- Amable du Fond River
- Kaibuskong River
- North River
An interesting feature is the Porte de l'Enfer (Hell's Gate). This is a peculiar cave in the river's bank speculated to be a native ochre mine. As far back as 1761, Alexander Henry the elder reported on this cave and the myths surrounding it. It was said to be inhabited by an evil and fierce demon, hence its name.
Potholes on the Talon Portage, several abandoned cataracts and former river channels provide evidence that the Mattawa River was a much larger river at one time. It may have been a post-glacial spillway draining the Great Lakes into the Ottawa River.
Read more about this topic: Mattawa River
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