Pigeon River (Minnesota-Ontario)
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The Pigeon River forms part of the border between the State of Minnesota and the Province of Ontario on the north shore of Lake Superior. Template:Coor dm.
It is approximately 50 mi (80 km) long. Its upper course forms part of the Grand Portage State Park in Cook County, Minnesota and the Pigeon River Provincial Park (9.49 km²) in Thunder Bay District, Ontario. Its lower course forms the northern boundary of the Grand Portage Indian Reservation. The river features a spectacular gorge with two notable waterfalls: High Falls, 120 feet (37 m), the highest waterfall in Minnesota, and Middle Falls.
In the 18th century, this was an important water route for fur traders leading to Lake of the Woods and thence to western Canada. The Montreal-based North West Company had a post at Grand Portage until 1801 when difficulties with the U.S. government following the adoption of the Jay Treaty obliged it to relocate to the Kaministiquia River in British territory. It was extensively logged for white and red pine in the early part of the 20th century. An "outlaw" bridge was built by residents of Thunder Bay, Ontario and opened on August 18, 1917 to permit access to Minnesota. The Canadian road leading to the customs and immigration facilities at the bridge was initially known as the "Scott Highway" after lumberman William Scott, and was designated as King's Highway 61 in 1937.
The river's English name is a translation of the 18th century French name Rivière aux Tourtres or Tourtes derived after the Passenger Pigeons which were common in this region at one time. The smaller European bird was known to the French as "tourtre" but in New France the North American bird was called "tourte". In modern French the bird is known as the pigeon migrateur.
External links
- Pigeon River Provincial Park (http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/pige.html)
- Grand Portage State Park (http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/grand_portage/index.html)
- The King's Highway 61 (http://www.thekingshighway.ca/Hwy61.htm)