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Spans an area of 448,000 hectares
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Largest body of water entirely located within the boundaries of Ontario
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Largest tributary to the Great Lakes.
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Renowned destination for world-class fishing.
- 46 different species of fish including record-sized brook trout, make Lake Nipigon
- Lake Nipigon’s clear, well-oxygenated water can reach depths up to 545 feet (166 metres)
- its aboriginal name NIPIGON means "deep clear water"
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Lake Nipigon is also famous for its remarkable shoreline featuring:
- Sheer cliffs
- Diabase sills over 490 feet (150 metres) high
- Moraine deposits, eskers, drumlins
- Unusual black-green sand beaches located on the east side of the lake.
Safe haven for species at risk
Unlike the Great Lakes to the south, Lake Nipigon remains relatively undisturbed by urban development and pollution. These conditions give hope for the recovery of the species so they might once again thrive in the province of Ontario.Some species include:
American White Pelican
One of North America’s largest birds, it is now an endangered species in Ontario. Only five nesting colonies exist in the province today and three of them are found within the Lake Nipigon area.
Bald Eagle
This striking raptor with its trademark white head and dark brown body is Canada’s largest bird of prey. The Lake Nipigon area provides a relatively remote refuge for Bald Eagle habitation and now supports the highest concentration of Bald Eagle nests in the province.
Woodland Caribou
Once commonly found throughout the province, only small herds of this endangered species exist in the more northerly regions of Ontario today. Calling the Boreal Forest its home, the islands and shores of Lake Nipigon provide the Woodland Caribou with a protected and largely undisturbed area for calving and for summer and winter habitat.
Early Human History
For thousands of years, the First Nations people have called the Lake Nipigon area their home.
Archaeological discoveries show evidence of their presence as early as 8000 BC.
These early inhabitants relied on the area’s fish, wild plants, and small and large game for survival. Clothing was made from the skins of caribou, moose, hare, and beaver. The First Nations people built extensive canoe routes that served to connect them with other cultures and provide trade routes between them.
Descendants of these early inhabitants still dwell in the Lake Nipigon area today.
In the mid 1600’s, the European fur traders were the next to venture into the Lake Nipigon region.
Lake Nipigon’s reputation for an over abundance of beaver, otter, fox and muskrat quickly led to the development of numerous forts and trading posts along its shoreline. Utilizing the well-established trade routes of the First Nations people, the area soon became the most profitable fur-bearing district in the north shore region of Lake Superior.
