The Thames River (Rivière Thames) is the second largest river in Southwestern Ontario, flowing westward 273 kilometres (170 miles) through the cities of Woodstock, London, and Chatham before emptying into Lake St. Clair at Lighthouse Cove. Part of the Lake St. Clair/Lake Erie basin, the river drains a watershed of 5,825 square kilometres (2,249 square miles). As one of the southernmost rivers in Canada, the Thames sits within the Carolinian Zone, a biogeographic region that lends the watershed exceptional biological diversity. The postglacial landscape, dynamic physical features — including fluctuating water levels, pools, riffles, and high nutrient levels — all contribute to a river ecosystem that supports one of the most diverse aquatic communities in Canada. An extraordinary 94 fish species have been recorded along its length, out of a total of 165 species found across all of Ontario, making the Thames a true multi-species fishery that rewards anglers willing to adapt their approach throughout the day.