Bonnechere River
The
Bonnechère River is a
river in eastern
Ontario,
Canada. It starts in
Algonquin Park and flows southeasterly through
Renfrew County, emptying into the
Ottawa River east and north of
Renfrew, Ontario. The river is
145 km in length and drains an area of
2,400 km².
During the
1800s, the river was used to transport
white pine logs from the forested areas surrounding the river. A number of
hydroelectric plants have been built on the river.
The Bonnechère Caves, formed from ancient limestone, are located by the river near the village of
Eganville, Ontario, in the hamlet of
Fourth Chute, Ontario.
The First Chute (waterfall) of the river is where the Bonnechere empties into the Ottawa River. The Second Chute is in Renfrew, this waterfall has a small hydroelectric dam. The Third Chute is in
Douglas, Ontario, it also has a small hydroelectric dam. The Fourth Chute is in the small village Fourth Chute, and the Fifth Chute is in
Eganville, Ontario.
Tributaries of this river include the:
*
Aylen River*
Pine River*
Sherwood RiverThe river flows through
Golden and
Round Lakes. There are two provincial parks along its length: the
Bonnechere River Waterway Provincial Park (a 23 km long section bordering Algonquin Park) and the
Bonnechere Provincial Park (located on Round Lake).
The river's name is thought to come from the
French "bonne chère" meaning "good eating", which suggests that early explorers found an ample supply of game animals in this region.
Each year the river is host to a raft run between the third and fourth chute. Originally arranged by local
Shriners the run has taken on a less official status, occurring with little to no organization appart from its pre-determined date during
Victoria Day weekend. Participants design and build a raft or anything else they hope will take them down the river. The river presents natural obsticles in the form of light rapids. There is no competitive angle to the run with no prize at the end other than warmth and a good time. Most participants are young adults from the area returning to visit friends and family. Having recently surpased its tenth year, the river run is quickly becoming a local tradition
