Hay River (Canada)

The Hay River (South Slavey: Kátå’odehche) is a large river in northern Alberta and southern Northwest Territories, Canada.

Hay River
Hay River
Location
CountryCanada
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationNorthern Alberta
  coordinates58.08496°N 119.02201°W / 58.08496; -119.02201 (Hay River origin)
  elevation720 metres (2,360 ft)
Mouth 
  location
Great Slave Lake at Hay River
  coordinates
60.86134°N 115.73290°W / 60.86134; -115.73290 (Hay River mouth)
  elevation
156 metres (512 ft)
Length702 kilometres (436 mi)
Basin size48,200 square kilometres (18,600 sq mi)
Discharge 
  average3,630,000 dam3 (2,940,000 acre⋅ft)

It originates in the muskeg of north western Alberta, flows west to British Columbia, then curves northward and returns to Alberta, where it follows a north-northeast course towards the Northwest Territories. After passing over two main waterfalls, the Alexandra Falls and Louise Falls, it flows through the town of Hay River and discharges into the Great Slave Lake. From there, its waters are carried to the Arctic Ocean by the Mackenzie River.

Hay River has a total length of 702 kilometres (436 mi) and a drainage area of 48,200 square kilometres (18,600 sq mi).[1]

Tributaries of the Hay River are the Chinchaga River, Meander River (in South Slavey: Tahchee), Steen River, Melvin River and Little Hay River. The Hay River effectively flows through the Hay-Zama Lakes. Rainbow Lake is a widening of the river itself.[2]

Communities in the Hay River basin include Rainbow Lake, Zama City, Steen River, Indian Cabins (in South Slavey: Dzêtú) in Alberta and Enterprise and the homonymous Hay River in the Northwest Territories. There are two first nations communities in the river basin: Chateh and Meander River.

At the Alberta – Northwest Territories border, the annual discharge is 3,630,000 cubic decametres (2,940,000 acre⋅ft).[3]

Tributaries

Alberta
British Columbia
  • Little Buffalo River
    • Bivouac Creek
  • Kotcho River
Alberta
    • Shekilie River
    • White Spruce Creek
    • Sahcho Creek
    • Townsoitoi Creek
  • Little Hay River
    • Fire Creek
  • Zama Lake
    • Sousa Creek
    • Moody Creek
    • Zama River
    • Omega River
    • Amber River
    • Mega River
    • Vardie River
  • Adair Creek
  • Chinchaga River
  • Negus Creek
  • Henderson Creek
  • Meander River
  • Adair Creek
  • Melvin River
  • Slavey Creek
  • Roe River
  • Lutose Creek
  • Little Rapids Creek
  • Steen River
  • Dizzy Creek
  • James Creek
    • Lessard Creek
  • Jackpot Creek
Northwest Territories
  • Swan Lake
  • Goose Egg Lakes
  • Swede Creek
  • Twin Falls Creek

See also

References

  1. Atlas of Canada. "Rivers in Canada". Retrieved 2007-05-01.
  2. Flow North Paddling. "Trip Details". Retrieved 2012-02-03.
  3. Environment Alberta - River Basins Archived January 16, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
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