Through the 20th century to the present day, the waters of the Winnipeg River have played, and will continue to play, a vital role in Manitoba's economic and social well-being. First used by aboriginals and early explorers for travel, the river's powerful waters were later used to provide electricity to the growing province. Today, six generating stations convert the waters' energy into electrical energy, producing 560 megawatts (MW).
The Winnipeg River flows through the southwest corner of the province, emptying into Lake Winnipeg.