Mackenzie River
The
Mackenzie River originates in Great Slave Lake and flows north into the
Arctic Ocean. It is the longest river in
Canada at 1800 km in length and part of the second-largest river system in
North America after the
Mississippi-
Missouri system.
The Mackenzie River system includes:
- Great Bear Lake
- Great Slave Lake
- Athabasca Lake
and the following rivers:
- Arctic Red
- Athabasca
- Liard
- Peace
- Slave
- South Nahanni
The large marshy delta of the Mackenzie River provides habitat for migrating
Snow Geese,
Tundra Swans and
Brant as well as breeding habitat for other waterfowl. The estuary is a calving area for
Beluga whales.
The Mackenzie was named after Alexander Mackenzie who travelled the river while trying to reach the Pacific Ocean.