Moosonee Ontario
Adventure Travel Wilderness Country - Canada
Moosonee, Ontario, Canada is a Northern Ontario community located on the banks of the Moose River, just south of James Bay, in the Hudson Bay Lowlands. The lowlands are the largest wetlands on the globe. It is an area which is considered the southern most tip of the Arctic Ocean. Moosonee is the main service centre for the area - as well as - the "Gateway to the North" for those who visit the region. In fact Moosonee is Ontario's only salt water port.
Opposite Moosonee, on the Moose River, is the small village of Moose Factory. And... further north are more small First Nation villages on the shores of James Bay. Moose Factory was first established in 1673. It is recorded as the oldest English settlement in Ontario. The community of Moosonee was later settled in 1903 by Revillion Freres of Paris. His party arrived on the shores of James Bay with plans of opening a fur trading post in direct competition with the Hudson Bay Company.
Services in Moosonee, Ontario
To access the communities of Moosonee and Moose Factory, Ontario one must travel to the region by train or plane as there are no roads connecting to the area. Once in Moosonee a water taxi (summer) is required to complete the journey to Moose Factory. In the winter an ice road connects the communities.
In 1932 train service arrived in Moosonee, Ontario. The arrival of the train established Moosonee as the transportation centre for accessing northern communities. Today, the Polar Bear Express (train) is the rail service which connects people from Cochrane, Ontario to the north.
Services in Moosonee which are important to travelers include accommodations (hotels, lodges, bed & breakfasts, guest houses) and a grocery store, restaurant, ATM and transportation services (airport, train, water taxi).
Parks, Trails and Places in Moosonee, Ontario
While visiting the region there are some attractions and historic sites to explore including the Hudson Bay Staff House, St. Thomas Anglican Church (Moose Factory) and the MNR Interpretive Centre.
Activities in Moosonee, Ontario
During the summer months the activities enjoyed in the region of Moosonee and Moose Factory include sightseeing (Northern Lights), boating, canoeing, birdwatching, camping, wildlife sightings, boating, hunting and fishing for brook trout, walleye and northern pike. A popular destination park for birdwatching, camping and wildlife sightings in the region is the Tidewater Provincial Park. During the winter months most of the rivers and streams freeze over and transform into ice roads creating transportation routes. To travel the ice roads and snow covered landscapes locals use snowmobiles and snowshoes.