Severn River (Hudson Bay)
The First Nation communities of Sandy Lake, Bearskin Lake, and Fort Severn are located along the river. These were formed at the sites of former trading posts built when the Severn River was a prominent river during the fur trade era.
The mouth of the river was located by the English in 1631 during expeditions by captains Thomas James and Luke Foxe. Later, Fort Severn was established there as a trading post in 1689 by the Hudson's Bay Company. It was captured by Pierre le Moyne, sieur d'Iberville in 1690. The post, rebuilt in 1759, has been in continuous operation to this day making this community one of the oldest European settlements in Ontario.
At its source on Deer Lake is the small community of Deer Lake, Ontario.
Tributaries
Tributaries of the northern Severn River include:
- McInness River
- Cobham River (source in Manitoba)
- Windigo River
- Makoop River
- Blackbear River
- Sachigo River
- Wapaseese River
- Beaver Stone River
- Fawn River
- Beaver River