The river is called Odoonabii-ziibi in the
Ojibwe language. Otonabee comes from the words ode which means "heart" and odemgat that comes from "boiling water". It translates into "the river that beats like a heart in reference to the bubbling and boiling water of the rapids along the river".[2]
Course
The river begins at Katchewanooka Lake on the north side of the community of Lakefield in the municipality of
Selwyn, and flows south over the Lakefield (Trent-Severn lock 6) dams and locks. After leaving the community to the Peterborough city limits, the river forms the border between Selwyn and the municipality of
Douro–Dummer. The river continues south, passing through the dams associated with four more locks, enters the city of Peterborough, and passes under Faryon Bridge at
Trent University. Just south of the university, the Trent-Severn departs via a south-bound canal to the
Peterborough Lift Lock east of the river, while the river continues south to the west. It passes over several
hydroelectricity dams and generating stations, and passes into the centre of the city of Peterborough, as close as 150 metres (490 ft) to downtown, as it reaches
Little Lake. The Trent-Severn waterway rejoins the river there, exiting from Ashburnham Lock. The river leaves Little Lake at Scotts Mills lock & dam, and heads south, passes under
Ontario Highway 7, passes into the municipality of
Otonabee–South Monaghan, and snakes its way without any other locks or dams to reach its mouth at Rice Lake, which flows via the
Trent River to
Lake Ontario.
The total length of the river is 55 kilometres (34 mi), and the distance from Little Lake to Rice Lake about 30 kilometres (19 mi). The
drainage basin, not including Katchewanooka Lake or other lakes further upstream, is 806 square kilometres (311 sq mi).[3]
Hydrology
Some areas of Peterborough along the Otonabee are prone to
flooding following heavy rains, such as happened on July 15, 2004 when 240 mm (7.3 in) fell in some locations in under twenty-four hours.
The river is called Odoonabii-ziibi in the
Ojibwe language. Otonabee comes from the words ode which means "heart" and odemgat that comes from "boiling water". It translates into "the river that beats like a heart in reference to the bubbling and boiling water of the rapids along the river".[2]
Course
The river begins at Katchewanooka Lake on the north side of the community of Lakefield in the municipality of
Selwyn, and flows south over the Lakefield (Trent-Severn lock 6) dams and locks. After leaving the community to the Peterborough city limits, the river forms the border between Selwyn and the municipality of
Douro–Dummer. The river continues south, passing through the dams associated with four more locks, enters the city of Peterborough, and passes under Faryon Bridge at
Trent University. Just south of the university, the Trent-Severn departs via a south-bound canal to the
Peterborough Lift Lock east of the river, while the river continues south to the west. It passes over several
hydroelectricity dams and generating stations, and passes into the centre of the city of Peterborough, as close as 150 metres (490 ft) to downtown, as it reaches
Little Lake. The Trent-Severn waterway rejoins the river there, exiting from Ashburnham Lock. The river leaves Little Lake at Scotts Mills lock & dam, and heads south, passes under
Ontario Highway 7, passes into the municipality of
Otonabee–South Monaghan, and snakes its way without any other locks or dams to reach its mouth at Rice Lake, which flows via the
Trent River to
Lake Ontario.
The total length of the river is 55 kilometres (34 mi), and the distance from Little Lake to Rice Lake about 30 kilometres (19 mi). The
drainage basin, not including Katchewanooka Lake or other lakes further upstream, is 806 square kilometres (311 sq mi).[3]
Hydrology
Some areas of Peterborough along the Otonabee are prone to
flooding following heavy rains, such as happened on July 15, 2004 when 240 mm (7.3 in) fell in some locations in under twenty-four hours.