Mimico Creek is a stream that flows through Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada.[1] It is 33 kilometres (21 mi) long, is in the Great Lakes Basin, and is a tributary of Lake Ontario.
| Mimico Creek | |
|---|---|
 Mimico Creek as it flows through Etobicoke, south of Bloor Street | |
  Location of the mouth of the creek in Toronto | |
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| Region | Greater Toronto Area |
| Municipalities | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Brampton |
| • coordinates | 43°44′26″N 79°44′06″W / 43.74056°N 79.73500°W |
| • elevation | 228 m (748 ft) |
| Mouth | Lake Ontario |
• location | Toronto |
• coordinates | 43°37′19″N 79°28′54″W / 43.62194°N 79.48167°W |
• elevation | 74 m (243 ft) |
| Length | 33 km (21 mi) |
| Basin size | 77 km2 (30 sq mi) |
The creek's name is derived from the community of Mimico, which is from the Ojibwe word omiimiikaa meaning "abundant with wild pigeons" (c.f. 19th century Mississaugas omiimii, "pigeon").[2] Previous names included River Mimicoke and Mimicoke Creek.[citation needed]
Course
edit
The watershed of 77 square kilometres (30 sq mi)[3] lies between the Humber River to the east and Etobicoke Creek to the west.[4]
The creek begins in Brampton, and flows through the community of Malton (now part of Mississauga); it continues southeast, past Toronto Pearson International Airport; and through a shallow valley surrounded by the urban neighbourhoods of Islington and Mimico. The creek is often encased in a concrete spillway to contain the fast flowing water that occurs during rainstorms. Mimico Creek crosses Bloor Street near the Islington Subway Station, and empties into Lake Ontario about 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) west of the mouth of the Humber River.[4]
Originally the creek had dozens of small tributary streams, the largest of which was Bonar Creek, that joined Mimico Creek near its mouth. Most of the tributaries were less than one kilometre long.[5][6][7]
Recreation
editIn the late 1970s and early 1980s, Humber Bay Park was constructed at the mouth of Mimico Creek. The park consists of two headlands, built using landfill from local construction projects that flank the mouth. As a result, Mimico Creek is sometimes mistaken for the Humber River.[3]
Mimico Creek Bridge
editIn 1994 Mimico Creek Bridge opened to allow pedestrians to access both east and west sections of the park. It is designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Mimico Creek". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
- ^ Freelang Ojibwe Dictionary
- ^ a b "Etobicoke & Mimico Creeks Watersheds Features". Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
- ^ a b "Etobicoke & Mimico Creeks Watersheds". Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Archived from the original on March 16, 2012. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
- ^ "Etobicoke and Mimico Creeks Watersheds Technical Update Report". Toronto Regional Conservation Authority.
- ^ "Lost Creeks of South Etobicoke: Bonar Creek". Lost Creeks of South Etobicoke.
- ^ "Bonar Creek Stormwater Management Facility and Legion Road Extension Municipal Class Environmental Assessment". City of Toronto. July 26, 2010. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- ^ "Mimico Creek Pedestrian Bridge / Toronto (Overview) - Santiago Calatrava – Architects & Engineers".