Petawawa River

Petawawa River
The dangerous Crooked Chute in Algonquin Provincial Park
Location of the mouth of the Petawawa River in Ontario
EtymologyFrom the Algonquian for "where one hears a noise like this"
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
Regions
County/District
Physical characteristics
SourceRalph Bice Lake
  locationGeographic township of Butt, Unorganized South Part, Nipissing District
  coordinates45°40′49″N 78°57′02″W / 45.68028°N 78.95056°W / 45.68028; -78.95056
  elevation443 m (1,453 ft)
MouthOttawa River
  location
Petawawa, Renfrew County
  coordinates
45°54′38″N 77°15′31″W / 45.91056°N 77.25861°W / 45.91056; -77.25861
  elevation
110 m (360 ft)
Length187 km (116 mi)
Basin size4,200 km2 (1,600 sq mi)
Discharge 
  average45 m3/s (1,600 cu ft/s)
Basin features
ProgressionOttawa RiverSt. Lawrence RiverGulf of St. Lawrence
River systemOttawa River drainage basin
Tributaries 
  leftNorth River, Nipissing River, Tim River
  rightBarron River, Crow River, Little Madawaska River

The Petawawa River is a river in the Saint Lawrence River drainage basin in Nipissing District and Renfrew County in eastern and northeastern Ontario, Canada. The river flows from Algonquin Provincial Park to the Ottawa River at the town of Petawawa, and is only one of two major tributaries of the Ottawa River to flow completely freely (the other being the Dumoine River). The river's name comes from the Algonquian for "where one hears a noise like this", which refers to its many rapids.