Rouge River
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- There is also the River Rouge in southeast Michigan.
The Rouge River is a two river system Little Rouge and Rouge River in the east and the northeast parts of Toronto and begins at the Oak Ridges Moraine near Richmond Hill. These rivers flow past:
- Markham, Ontario, northwest, central, to south, including a couple of conservation areas.
- Eastern edge of Scarborough
- Rouge Valley Park[1] (http://www.trca.on.ca/parks_and_attractions/places_to_visit/rouge_park/)
At the southern end, the Rouge River system is the boundary between Port Union and southeastern Pickering. Rouge River empties into Lake Ontario.
Its original name in Iroquois was Katabokokonk.
The Rouge River is part of the Rouge River conservation area which is the largest urban park in North America. It is one of a few wilderness areas left in South-Central Ontario, and has been virtually untouched by development since the arrival of Europeans. While many exclusive homes and conclaves border this area on the southern tip, it is currently surrounded largely by agricultural land. It is even devoid of recreational development but sports a considerable network of walking or bicycle paths. Unlike other rivers in the Toronto area, is allowed to fill its entire flood plain on a regular basis rather than being forced through an artificial channel. However, parts of its watershed include the Toronto Zoo and the Beare Road Landfill.
In the former city of Scarborough, the Rouge was the "third rail" issue of municipal politics, and many minor candidates for mayor often ran on a platform to preserve it. However, since Scarborough was annexed into the city of Toronto, Toronto City Council has voted on occasion to allow development around the river.