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| Nottawasaga Bay | |
|---|---|
 Rocky shore on Nottawasaga Bay nearLafontaine | |
  Nottawasaga Bay | |
| Coordinates | 44°40′02″N80°18′22″W / 44.66722°N 80.30611°W /44.66722; -80.30611 |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Settlements | Collingwood The Blue Mountains Meaford Tiny Wasaga Beach |
Nottawasaga Bay is a sub-bay withinGeorgian Bay inSouthern Ontario,Canada located at the southernmost end of the main bay.[1] The communities located on Nottawasaga Bay areMeaford,The Blue Mountains,Collingwood,Wasaga Beach andTiny.
The western shore of Nottawasaga Bay is determined by theNiagara Escarpment, which reaches Nottawasaga Bay between Collingwood andThornbury. The southern shore is flat limestone plain, with cedar marshes. TheNottawasaga River flows into Georgian Bay near the southern end of the bay, and onward to the east the shore is predominantly sand dunes and marshes created by the strong predominant northwest winds. This part of Nottawasaga Bay is heavily built up with summer homes. Nearer to Thornbury and theBeaver River Valley there are some vineyards; many apple orchards also dot the area.
The river takes its name from theOjibwe word "Nottawasaga".Nottawa (orNaadowe in modern orthography) means "Iroquois" andsaga (zaagi in modern orthography) means "mouth of the river"; the word "Nottawasaga" (Naddowe-zaagi in modern orthography) was used by Algonquin scouts as a warning if they sawIroquois raiding parties approaching their villages.[2]
Thus, the name of the river, in Ojibwe, isNaadawe-zaagiing, "At the Iroquois River-mouth.[3]
(from west to east)
In the early and mid-17th century, Nottawasaga Bay was adjacent to two indigenousFirst Nations territories:Huronia to the east, which was the territory of theHuron or Wendat people, and the "Petun Country" to the south, which was the land of thePetun, who were their close allies and relatives.[4] In March 1649, during theBeaver Wars, Huron refugees fled across the bay, which was frozen over with ice, to take refuge among the Petun.[5]
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