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Gull River
Gull River at Coboconk
The Gull River drainage basin
Location of the mouth of the Gull River in southern Ontario.
Location
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
County	Haliburton
Municipalities	Algonquin Highlands Dysart et al Kawartha Lakes
Physical characteristics
Source	Longboot Lake
• location	Southern Algonquin Provincial Park in Dysart et al, Haliburton County
• coordinates	45°13′16″N 78°16′00″W / 45.22111°N 78.26667°W / 45.22111; -78.26667
• elevation	457 m (1,499 ft)
Mouth	Balsam Lake
• location	Coboconk, Kawartha Lakes
• coordinates	44°38′28″N 78°48′19″W / 44.64111°N 78.80528°W / 44.64111; -78.80528
• elevation	256.3 m (841 ft)
Discharge
• average	20 m/s (710 cu ft/s)
• minimum	12 m/s (420 cu ft/s)
• maximum	27 m/s (950 cu ft/s)
Basin features
River system	Great Lakes Basin
Tributaries
• right	Boshkung River, Kennisis River, Redstone River

The Gull River is a river in Algonquin Highlands and Dysart et al, Haliburton County and the single-tier municipality of Kawartha Lakes in south-central Ontario, Canada. It is in the Trent River and Lake Ontario drainage basins, and flows from southern Algonquin Provincial Park to Balsam Lake on the Trent–Severn Waterway.

Etymology

While there are no sources as to the naming of the Gull river, one of the possible origins is a translation of the name of the village of Coboconk. The name is translated from the Indigenous (Likely Ojibwa) term, Quash-qua-be-conk, meaning "where the gulls nest." The town of Minden, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) north, was named Gull River prior to April 1, 1859.

Course

This section needs expansion with: course information from Percy lake to the river mouth. You can help by adding to it. (August 2010)

The Gull River begins at Longboot Lake in the geographic township of Bruton in Dysart et al, Haliburton County. This is in the southern arm of Algonquin Provincial Park, and just south of the York River in the Ottawa River drainage basin. The river leaves the lake at the southeast and loops east, south, west and north west to Percy Lake.

History

The Gull River drainage basin is an important reservoir for the Trent–Severn Waterway. The lakes of the system were flooded during the 1800s by man-made cofferdams in order to preserve the flow of the river throughout the year. While the original purpose of this was to aid lumberjacks — who were cutting pine, spruce and hemlock in the area — in sending logs downstream to Trenton after the initial spring flooding had subsided, it would serve a dual purpose when the lock between Balsam Lake and Cameron Lake was completed in 1873, connecting Trenton with Coboconk. Balsam lake was raised 5 metres to provide enough depth for steamboats passing through the lock.

Since that time, the Gull River has been an integral part of the Trent-Severn Waterway. The water levels of the lakes in the drainage basin are closely monitored in order to preserve the reservoir year-round, as well as to protect the cottage lands adjacent to the lakes. Lake levels generally swell during the spring thaw and late fall, and settle back to normal by mid-June. The lowest water levels are in late winter.

Most of the lake front property on the lower sections of the Gull River system was divided into deep narrow lots in the 1830s, unlike the regular-sized concessions in the adjacent land. These properties would in time develop into the many cottages that dot the lakes today.

Geology

The river's lowest and southernmost lake, Silver Lake, lies upon the boundary line between the granite Canadian Shield, and the Limestone sheaths which lie south of it. The lakes and rivers north of Silver Lake twist and wind between the mountains and valleys created by the retreating glaciers at the end of the ice age. The result is the spectacular and pristine wilderness that has earned Highway 35, that passes through the drainage basin, a reputation as one of the most scenic highways of Ontario.

Recreation

An artificial white water course was constructed through Minden and has earned the river a reputation amongst enthusiasts and kayakers.

Tributaries

• Boshkung River (right)
• Kennisis River (right)
• Redstone River

See also

• List of rivers of Ontario

References

1. "A Phantom Village, Victoria County, Ontario Canada". Canadian Genealogy. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
2. Murray, Florence Beatrice (1963). Muskoka and Haliburton 1615-1875: A Collection of Documents. Publications of the Champlain Society, Ontario series, number 6. Toronto: Champlain Society for the Government of Ontario. OCLC 166620505.
3. McMurtrie, Jeffrey (2008). "Algonquin Provincial Park and the Haliburton Highlands". Wikimedia Commons. Archived from the original on 2011-06-29. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
4. ^ Angus, James T (1988). A Respectable Ditch. A History of the Trent-Severn Waterway, 1833-1920. Kingston, Ont: McGill-Queen's University Press. pp. 139–141. ISBN 978-0-7735-0597-1. OCLC 19519316. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
5. "Water Levels". Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site of Canada. Parks Canada. Archived from the original on 2011-05-14. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
6. "Hell's Half Acre, Victoria County, Ontario Canada". Canadian Genealogy. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
7. 1993 Ontario Road map which designates "scenic highways".
8. "The Gull River". Whitewater Ontario. Retrieved 2009-08-09.

Sources

• "Gull River". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
• "Topographic Map sheets 31D10, 31D15, 31E1, 31E2". Atlas of Canada. Natural Resources Canada. 2010-02-04. Retrieved 2010-07-28.

External links

• Images of Highway 35 as it passes through the Gull River system

v t e City of Kawartha Lakes
City seat: Lindsay
Towns	Lindsay
Villages and unincorporated communities	Ancona Point Argyle Avery Point Baddow Baker Trail Ballyduff Barclay Bellevue Bethany Bethel Bobcaygeon Bolsover Burnt River Burton Cambray Cameron Coboconk Dalrymple Dartmoor Daytonia Beach Dongola Downeyville Dunsford Emily Eldon Station Feir Mill Fenelon Falls Fowlers Corners Fleetwood Glenarm Greenhurst-Thurstonia Hartley Head Lake Janetville Kinmount Kirkfield Little Britain Long Beach Long Point Lorneville Manilla Manvers Station Mariposa Station Mariposa Norland Oakwood Omemee Pontypool Ragged Rapids Rokeby Rosedale Sadowa St. Mary's Sebright Sturgeon Point Uphill Valentia Verulam Park Victoria Road View Lake Woodville
Former townships	Bexley Carden Dalton Laxton, Digby and Longford Eldon Emily Fenelon Manvers Mariposa Ops Somerville Verulam
Major lakes	Trent River Shadow Lake Silver Lake Four Mile Lake Balsam Lake Cameron Lake Sturgeon Lake Lake Scugog Pigeon Lake Talbot River Canal Lake Mitchell Lake Talbot Lake Severn River Lake Dalrymple Cranberry Lake Head Lake Fishog Lake
Topics	List of roads Victoria County
1) This area lies on the border of an adjacent region, but is part of the Kawartha Lakes census.

• Rivers of Kawartha Lakes
• Rivers of Haliburton County