View source for Pigeon River (Minnesota–Ontario)

{{Infobox river
| name               = Pigeon River
| native_name        ={{native name|fr|Rivière aux Tourtres}}
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = 
| nickname           =
<!---------------------- IMAGE-->
| image              = HighFallsGrandPortageStateParkMN.jpg
| image_size         = 
| image_caption      = The Pigeon River High Falls
| image_alt          =
<!---------------------- MAPS -->
| mapframe           = yes
| mapframe-zoom      = 8
| map                = 
| map_size           = 
| map_caption        = 
| map_alt            = 
| pushpin_map        = Ontario
| pushpin_map_size   = 
| pushpin_map_caption= Mouth of the Pigeon River
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[Canada]] and [[United States]]
| subdivision_type2  = Region
| subdivision_name2  = [[Minnesota]] and [[Ontario]]
| subdivision_type3  = County
| subdivision_name3  = [[Cook County,  Minnesota|Cook]]
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| subdivision_type5  = 
| subdivision_name5  = 
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = {{convert|31.2|mi|km}}
| width_min          = 
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = 
| depth_min          = 
| depth_avg          = 
| depth_max          = 
| discharge1_location= 
| discharge1_min     = 
| discharge1_avg     = 
| discharge1_max     = 
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = 
| source1_location   = South Fowl Lake
| source1_coordinates= {{Coord|48.0396086|-89.9964786|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation  = {{convert|1437|ft|m}}
| mouth              = 
| mouth_location     = Pigeon Point, [[Lake Superior]] 
| mouth_coordinates  = {{Coord|47.9991667|-89.5694444|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation    = {{convert|600|ft|m}}
| progression        = 
| river_system       = 
| basin_size         = 
| basin_landmarks    = 
| basin_population   = 
| tributaries_left   = 
| tributaries_right  = 
| waterbodies        = 
| waterfalls         = 
| bridges            = 
| ports              = 
| custom_label       = 
| custom_data        = 
| extra              = 
}}
The '''Pigeon River''' forms part of the [[Canada–United States border]] between the state of [[Minnesota]] and the province of [[Ontario]], west of [[Lake Superior]]. In [[pre-industrial]] times, the river was a [[waterway]] of great importance for [[canoeing|transportation]] and the [[fur trade]].

==Geography==
The Pigeon River flows in an easterly direction out of the [[Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness]] for {{convert|31.2|mi}} until it drains into [[Lake Superior]].<ref name=NHD>U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. [http://viewer.nationalmap.gov/viewer/ The National Map], accessed May 1, 2012</ref> The Pigeon is one of the larger rivers on Superior's [[North Shore (Lake Superior)|North Shore]].<ref>{{Gnis|657824|Pigeon River}}</ref>

===Headwaters===
[[File:NorthAmerica-WaterDivides.png|thumb|upright=1.3|[[Continental divide]]s in [[North America]]. The [[Laurentian Divide]] is in green.]]
The Pigeon River originates from a chain of lakes along the US-Canada border, the highest of which, and furthest west, is Mountain Lake. Among the Pigeon's tributaries is the Arrow River of Ontario, which rises in South Lake, west of and at a lower elevation than Mountain Lake. South Lake is separated only by a narrow [[isthmus]] from North Lake in the [[Rainy River (Minnesota-Ontario)|Rainy River]] [[drainage basin|watershed]]. This isthmus is a part of the Northern (or [[Laurentian Divide|Laurentian]]) [[Continental divide]], and is crossed by the [[Height of Land Portage]].<ref name = Morse>{{cite book
  | last = Morse
  | first = Eric
  | author-link = 
  | title = Fur Trade Routes of Canada
  | publisher = NorthWord Press
  | year = 1979
  | location = Minoqua, WI
  | pages = 71–75
  | url = 
  | doi = 
  | isbn = 1-55971-045-4}}</ref> The fur-trading [[Voyageurs]] and [[Coureur des bois|coureurs des bois]] crossed this divide and travelled north and west downstream on the Rainy River and [[Winnipeg River]] to [[Lake Winnipeg]], and thence to fur-producing areas of the Canadian northwest.

===Lower course===
Below South Fowl Lake, the Pigeon River alternates between navigable waters and cascades or waterfalls.  As the river nears Lake Superior, the gradient increases, culminating in a spectacular gorge including two notable waterfalls: High Falls, at {{convert|120|ft}} the highest waterfall in Minnesota, and Middle Falls. This gorge is included within both [[Grand Portage State Park]] in Cook County, Minnesota, and [[Pigeon River Provincial Park]] (9.49&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) across the border in [[Thunder Bay District]], Ontario. Its lower course also forms the northern boundary of the [[Grand Portage Indian Reservation]].

A {{convert|9|mi|adj=on}} [[portage]], known as ''Grand Portage'' and used for hundreds of years by canoe travelers, bypasses these lower waterfalls and reaches Lake Superior a few miles from the [[river mouth|mouth]] of the river. This historic area is protected as a part of the [[Grand Portage National Monument]].

==History==
Up to the 19th century, the river was a primary water route for [[fur trade]]rs, and even earlier, for [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]], leading to the [[Lake of the Woods]] and thence to western [[Canada]] and [[Hudson Bay]]. The [[Montreal]]-based [[North West Company]] had a post at the community of [[Grand Portage (community), Minnesota|Grand Portage]] on the shore of Lake Superior 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.

The region was extensively logged for [[eastern white pine|white]] and [[red pine]] in the early part of the 20th century.<ref>Barr, Elinor, "Lumbering in the Pigeon River watershed," Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, ''Papers and Records'', IV (1976), 3–9.</ref> An "outlaw" bridge across the river 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 [[Ontario Highway 61|King's Highway 61]] in 1937. Later the [[Pigeon River Bridge]] was built downstream and the "outlaw bridge" was removed.

The river's [[English language|English]] name is a translation of the 18th century [[French language|French]] name ''Rivière aux Tourtres'' or ''Tourtes'' derived after the [[passenger pigeon]] which was once prolific in this region.<ref>{{cite book|author=Warren Upham|title=Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance|url=https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog|year=1920|publisher=Minnesota Historical Society|page=[https://archive.org/details/minnesotageogra00uphagoog/page/n156 137]}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of rivers of Ontario]]
*[[List of rivers of Minnesota]]
*[[List of longest streams of Minnesota]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Pigeon River}}
*[http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/grand_portage/index.html  Grand Portage State Park]
*[http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/pige.html  Pigeon River Provincial Park]
*[https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=48.099865,-90.565453&sll=37.062500,-95.677068&spn=0.027445,0.055528&sspn=35.082817,59.853516&t=h&hl=en Height of Land Portage] at Google Maps

{{North Shore MN streams}}
{{Ontario parks}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pigeon River (Minnesota-Ontario)}}
[[Category:Border rivers]]
[[Category:Canada–United States border]]
[[Category:Rivers of Cook County, Minnesota]]
[[Category:International rivers of North America]]
[[Category:Rivers of Minnesota]]
[[Category:Rivers of Thunder Bay District]]
[[Category:Tributaries of Lake Superior]]