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Rivers
Rivers, which form extensive networks across the country, are natural drainage channels for surface waters. Surface waters are received from two major sources: runoff and base flow. Runoff is that part of precipitation that flows toward the rivers or streams on the ground surface or within the soil (subsurface runoff or interflow). Base flow is the part of stream flow that enters the stream channel from groundwater.
Rivers in Canada flow into five ocean-equivalent drainage basins: the Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic oceans, Hudson Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The drainage basin areas are separated by a drainage divide or height of land. The individual river system with the largest drainage area is the Mackenzie River, with 1 805 200 square kilometres.
The discharge of a stream or river is derived from Canadian water level measurements at the furthest-downstream gauging station, and is converted to streamflow discharge in cubic feet per second or cubic metres per second. The river in Canada with the greatest annual discharge is the St. Lawrence River at 9 850 cubic metres per second.
List of River Facts:
- Ocean Drainage Basins in Canada
- Rivers Flowing into the Pacific Ocean
- Rivers Flowing into the Arctic Ocean
- Rivers Flowing into Hudson Bay, James Bay or Ungava Bay
- Rivers Flowing into the Gulf of Mexico
- Rivers Flowing into the Atlantic Ocean
Ocean Drainage Basins in Canada
| Drainage Basin | Approximate Area (square kilometres) |
|---|---|
| Atlantic Ocean | 1 520 000 |
| Hudson Bay, James Bay and Ungava Bay | 3 861 400 |
| Arctic Ocean | 3 583 300 |
| Pacific Ocean | 1 009 100 |
| Gulf of Mexico | 21 600 |
- Hudson Bay drainage includes internal drainage areas (areas whose drainage flows into groundwater or evaporates)
- Atlantic drainage includes areas of diverted drainage that could otherwise flow into James Bay.
Rivers Flowing into the Pacific Ocean
| River | Length (kilometres) | Drainage Area (square kilometres) | Mean Discharge (cubic metres per second) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yukon River (mouth to head of Nisutlin River) | 3 185 | Can.: 323 800 US: 515 400 Total: 839 200 |
not available |
| Yukon River (International Boundary to head of Nisutlin River) | 1 149 | 323 800 | 2 300 |
| Porcupine River | 721 | Can.: 61 400 US: 56 500 Total: 117 900 |
not available |
| Stewart River | 644 | 51 000 | not available |
| Pelly River | 608 | 51 000 | 410 |
| Teslin River | 393 | 35 500 | 330 |
| White River | 265 | Can.: 38 000 US: 12 500 Total: 50 500 |
not available |
| River | Length (kilometres) | Drainage Area (square kilometres) | Mean Discharge (cubic metres per second) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia River (mouth to head of Columbia Lake) | 2 000 | Can.: 102 800 US: 568 500 Total: 671 300 |
not available |
| Columbia River (International Boundary to head of Columbia Lake) | 801 | 102 800 | 2 790 |
| Kootenay River | 780 | Can.: 37 700 US: 12 600 Total: 50 300 |
850 |
| Elk River (to head of Upper Elk Lake) | 220 | 4 450 | 80 |
| Slocan River (to head of Slocan Lake) | 97 | 3 290 | 85 |
| Kettle River (to head of Holmes Lake) | 336 | 4 700 | not available |
| Okanagan River (to head of Okanagan Lake) | 314 | 21 600 | not available |
| Similkameen River | 251 | 9 300 | 85 |
- photo of the Columbia River
| River | Length (kilometres) | Drainage Area (square kilometres) | Mean Discharge (cubic metres per second) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fraser River | 1 370 | Can.: 232 300 US: 800 Total: 233 100 |
3 540 |
| Thompson River (to head of North Thompson River) | 489 | 55 400 | 750 |
| North Thompson River | 338 | 20 700 | 425 |
| South Thompson River (to head of Shuswap River) | 332 | 17 800 | not available |
| Shuswap River | 185 | 5 200 | 90 |
| Nechako River (to head of Eutsuk Lake) | 462 | 47 100 | not available |
| Stuart River (to head of Driftwood River) | 415 | 16 200 | not available |
| Chilcotin River | 235 | 20 000 | not available |
| Quesnel River (to head of Mitchell Lake) | 203 | 12 000 | not available |
| Harrison River (to head of Lillooet River) | 177 | 8 400 | not available |
| Bridge River | 142 | 4 660 | 110 |
- photo of the Fraser River
| River | Length (kilometres) | Drainage Area (square kilometres) | Mean Discharge (cubic metres per second) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skeena River | 579 | 54 400 | not available |
| Bulkley River (to head of Maxan Creek) | 257 | 12 400 | not available |
- photo of the Skeena River
| River | Length (kilometres) | Drainage Area (square kilometres) | Mean Discharge (cubic metres per second) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stikine River | 539 | Can.: 49 800 US: 1 800 Total: 51 600 |
not available |
| Iskut River | 195 | 9 400 | not available |
- photo of the Stikine River
| River | Length (kilometres) | Drainage Area (square kilometres) | Mean Discharge (cubic metres per second) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taku River | 250 | Can.: 27 500 US: 2 300 Total: 29 800 |
not available |
| Nass River | 380 | 21 100 | not available |
| Homathko River | 137 | 5 700 | 300 |
 |
Rivers Flowing Into the Arctic Ocean
| River | Length (kilometres) | Drainage Area (square kilometres) | Mean Discharge (cubic metres per second) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mackenzie River (to head of Finlay River) | 4 241 | 1 805 200 | 9 700 |
| Peace River (to head of Finlay River) | 1 923 | 302 500 | not available |
| Smoky River | 492 | 51 300 | 375 |
| Finlay River | 402 | 43 000 | 600 |
| Parsnip River | 231 | 20 300 | 370 |
| Athabasca River | 1 231 | 95 300 | not available |
| Pembina River | 547 | 12 900 | not available |
| Liard River | 1 115 | 277 100 | not available |
| South Nahanni River | 563 | 36 300 | not available |
| Fort Nelson River (to head of Sikanni Chief River) | 517 | 55 900 | not available |
| Petitot River | 404 | 23 200 | not available |
| Hay River | 702 | 48 200 | not available |
| Peel River (to head of Ogilvie River) | 684 | 73 600 | not available |
| Arctic Red River | 499 | 23 200 | not available |
| Slave River (from mouth of Peace River to Great Slave Lake | 415 | 616 400 | not available |
| Fond du Lac River (from outlet of Wollaston Lake) | 277 | 66 800 | 300 |
| River | Length (kilometres) | Drainage Area (square kilometres) | Mean Discharge (cubic metres per second) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back River (to outlet of Muskox Lake) | 974 | 106 500 | not available |
| Coppermine River | 845 | not available | not available |
| Anderson River | 692 | not available | not available |
| Horton River | 618 | not available | not available |
|
Rivers Flowing Into Hudson Bay, James Bay or Ungava Bay
| River | Length (kilometres) | Drainage Area (square kilometres) | Mean Discharge (cubic metres per second) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson River (to head of Bow River) | 2 575 | 892 300 | 2 370 |
| Nelson River (from outlet of Lake Winnipeg to mouth) | 644 | 802 900 | not available |
| South Saskatchewan River (to head of Bow River) | 1 939 | Can.: 334 100 US: 1 800 Total: 335 900 |
700 |
| Saskatchewan (to head of Bow River) | 1 392 | Can.: 144 300 US: 1 800 Total: 146 100 |
280 |
| Red Deer River [AB] | 724 | 45 100 | 70 |
| Bow River | 587 | 26 200 | not available |
| Oldman River | 362 | 26 700 | 95 |
| North Saskatchewan River | 1 287 | 122 800 | 245 |
| Battle River (to head of Pigeon Lake) | 570 | 30 300 | 10 |
| Red River (to head of Sheyenne River) | 877 | Can.: 138 600 US: 148 900 Total: 287 500 |
not available |
| Assiniboine River | 1 070 | Can.: 160 600 US: 21 400 Total: 182 000 |
45 |
| Winnipeg River (to head of Firesteel River) | 813 | Can.: 106 500 US: 29 300 Total: 135 800 |
not available |
| English River | 615 | 52 300 | not available |
| Fairford River (to head of Red Deer River [MB, SK]) | 684 | 80 300 | 60 |
- photo of the Bow River
| River | Length (kilometres) | Drainage Area (square kilometres) | Mean Discharge (cubic metres per second) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Churchill River (to head of Churchill Lake) | 1 609 | 281 300 | 1 200 |
| Beaver River (to outlet of Beaver Lake) | 491 | not available | not available |
| River | Length (kilometres) | Drainage Area (square kilometres) | Mean Discharge (cubic metres per second) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thelon River | 904 | 142 400 | 840 |
| Dubawnt River | 842 | 57 500 | not available |
| Kazan River (to head of Ennadai Lake) | 732 | 71 500 | 540 |
| River | Length (kilometres) | Drainage Area (square kilometres) | Mean Discharge (cubic metres per second) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moose River (to head of Mattagami River) | 547 | 108 500 | 1 370 |
| Abitibi River (to head of Lac Loïs) | 547 | 29 500 | not available |
| Mattagami River (to head of Lake Minissinakwa) | 443 | 37 000 | not available |
| Missinaibi River | 426 | 23 500 | not available |
| River | Length (kilometres) | Drainage Area (square kilometres) | Mean Discharge (cubic metres per second) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albany River (to head of Cat River) | 982 | 135 200 | not available |
| Severn River (to head of Black Birch River) | 982 | 102 800 | not available |
| La Grande Rivière | 893 | 97 600 | 1 690 |
| Rivière Koksoak (to head of Rivière Caniapiscau) | 874 | 133 400 | 2 800 |
| Rivière Nottaway (via Rivière Bell to head of Rivière Mégiscane) | 776 | 65 800 | 1 190 |
| Rivière Rupert (to head of Rivière Témiscamie) | 763 | 43 400 | 900 |
| Rivière Eastmain | 756 | 46 400 | 930 |
| Attawapiskat River (to head of Bow Lake) | 748 | 50 500 | not available |
| Grande rivière de la Baleine | 724 | 42 700 | 680 |
| Rivière George | 565 | 41 700 | 940 |
| Rivière Harricana | 533 | 29 300 | 570 |
| Hayes River | 483 | 108 000 | 590 |
| Rivière aux Feuilles | 480 | 42 500 | 590 |
| Winisk River | 475 | 67 300 | not available |
| Rivière Broadback | 450 | 20 800 | 350 |
| Rivière à la Baleine | 428 | 31 900 | 580 |
| Rivière de Povungnituk | 389 | 28 500 | 480 |
| Rivière Innuksuac | 385 | 11 400 | 180 |
| Petite rivière de la Baleine | 380 | 15 900 | 280 |
| Rivière Arnaud | 377 | 49 500 | 670 |
| Rivière Nastapoca | 360 | 13 400 | 170 |
| Rivière Kogaluc | 304 | 11 600 | 180 |
|
Rivers Flowing Into the Gulf of Mexico
| River | Length (kilometres) | Drainage Area (square kilometres) | Mean Discharge (cubic metres per second) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk River | 1 005 | Can.:21 600 US: 39 600 Total: 61 200 |
not available |
| Frenchman River (in Canada) | 341 | 5 500 | not available |
| Battle Creek (in Canada) | 203 | 2 600 | not available |
| Lodge Creek (in Canada) | 126 | 2 100 | not available |
| Mississippi River (entirety in the US) | 3 778 | Can.:27 800 US: 3 220 000 Total: 3 247 800 |
not available |
|
Rivers Flowing into the Atlantic Ocean
| River | Length (kilometres) | Drainage Area (square kilometres) | Mean Discharge (cubic metres per second) |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Lawrence River (to head of St. Louis River, Minnesota) | 3 058 | Can.: 839 200 US: 505 000 Total: 1 344 200 |
9 850 |
| Lake Superior | 563 | Can.: 112 700 US: 97 100 Total: 209 800 |
not available |
| Nipigon River (to head of Ombabika River) | 209 | 25 400 | not available |
| Nipigon River (to head of Merekeme Lake) | 114 | 1 930 | 26 |
| Lake Huron (drainage figure does not include upstream drainage via St. Marys River) | 332 | Can.: 128 200 US: 65 500 Total: 193 700 |
not available |
| Spanish River | 338 | 14 000 | 150 |
| French River (to head of Sturgeon River) | 290 | not available | not available |
| Mississagi River | 266 | 9 250 | 11 |
| Saugeen River | 161 | 4 120 | 55 |
| Lake St. Clair (drainage figure does not include upstream drainage via St. Clair River) | 42 | Can.: 10 480 US: 3 060 Total: 13 540 |
not available |
| Thames River | 262 | 5 650 | 50 |
| Lake Erie (drainage figure does not include upstream drainage via Detroit River) | 388 | Can.: 36 500 US: 67 300 Total: 103 800 |
not available |
| Grand River | 266 | 6 200 | not available |
| Lake Ontario (drainage figure does not include upstream drainage via Niagara River) | 311 | Can.: 41 200 US: 45 200 Total: 86 400 |
not available |
| Trent River (to head of Irondale River) | 402 | 12 400 | not available |
| Moira River | 124 | 2 750 | 30 |
| Ottawa River | 1 271 | 146 300 | 1 950 |
| Rivière Gatineau | 386 | 23 700 | not available |
| Rivière du Lièvre | 330 | 10 400 | not available |
| Madawaska River (to head of Madawaska Lake) | 230 | 8 470 | 85 |
| Rivière Coulonge | 217 | 5 060 | not available |
| Petawawa River (to head of Butt Lake) | 187 | 4 200 | 45 |
| Rivière Rouge | 185 | not available | not available |
| Mississippi River (to head of Upper Mazinaw Lake) | 169 | 3 750 | 40 |
| South Nation River | 161 | 3 830 | 35 |
| Rideau River | 146 | 3 800 | 35 |
| Rivière Dumoine | 129 | 5 380 | not available |
| Rivière du Nord | 113 | not available | not available |
| Rivière de la Petite Nation | 97 | not available | not available |
| Saguenay River (to head of Rivière Péribonka) | 698 | 88 000 | 1 750 |
| Rivière Péribonka | 451 | 28 200 | not available |
| Rivière Mistassini | 298 | 21 900 | not available |
| Rivière Ashuapmushuan | 266 | 15 700 | not available |
| Rivière Saint-Maurice | 563 | 43 300 | 730 |
| Rivière Matawin | 161 | 5 560 | not available |
| Rivière Manicouagan (to head of Rivière Mouchalagane) | 560 | 45 800 | 1 020 |
| Rivières aux Outardes | 499 | 19 000 | 400 |
| Rivière Betsiamites (to head of Rivière Manouanis) | 444 | 18 700 | 340 |
| Rivière Moisie | 410 | 19 200 | 490 |
| Rivière Saint-François | 280 | 10 230 | 190 |
| Rivière Chaudière | 193 | not available | not available |
| Rivière Richelieu (to outlet of Lake Champlain) | 171 | Can.: 3 800 US: 19 600 Total: 23 400 |
330 |
| River | Length (kilometres) | Drainage Area (square kilometres) | Mean Discharge (cubic metres per second) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint John River | 673 | Can.: 35 500 US: 19 700 Total: 55 200 |
1 130 |
| Tobique River (to outlet of Nictau Lake) | 148 | 4 330 | 80 |
| River | Length (kilometres) | Drainage Area (square kilometres) | Mean Discharge (cubic metres per second) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Churchill River [NL] (to head of Ashuanipi River) | 856 | 79 800 | 1 580 |
| Rivière du Petit Mécatina / Little Mecatina River | 547 | 19 600 | 510 |
| Rivière Romaine | 496 | 14 350 | 340 |
| Rivière Natashquan / Natashquan River | 410 | 16 100 | 410 |
| Exploits River | 246 | 11 000 | 270 |
| Eagle River | 233 | 10 300 | not available |
| Rivière Saint-Augustin / St. Augustin River | 233 | 9 900 | 280 |
| Naskaupi River | 220 | 18 100 | not available |
| Miramichi River | 217 | 12 390 | not available |
| Gander River (to head of Northwest Gander River) | 175 | 5 000 | 130 |
| Nepisiguit River (to outlet of Nepisiguit Lakes) | 121 | 2 320 | 40 |
Sources:
Canada. Energy, Mines and Resources Canada. Surveys and Mapping Branch. 1985. Canada - Drainage Basins, The National Atlas of Canada, 5th ed. Map Scale 1:7 500 000. Ottawa.
US Army Corps of Engineers. Coordinating Committee on Great Lakes. 1977. Coordinated Great Lakes Physical Data: Basic Hydraulic and Hydrologic Data.
