The Mackenzie River system, some 6,236 km long in total, has its headwaters in the Omineca Mountains of central British Columbia and is the longest river in Canada – and second only to the Missouri/Mississippi in North America. The entire river basin (1.8 million square kilometers) is one-fifth the size of Canada! The Mackenzie River also contributes 11% of the total freshwater flow into the entire Arctic. The “master river” of Canada has called “Cold Amazon” owing to it immense size, its HUGE delta with over 30,000 lakes, and its key role in sustaining life in all its forms in the sub-Arctic and Arctic. I have been fortunate enough to visit the lower Mackenzie River, including the delta, a couple of times and it truly is an amazing place. A new documentary, Cold Amazon, has just been released and it discusses the importance and vulnerability of the Mackenzie River from the perspective of those who depend on its health and who are working for its protection. Huge developments such as the proposed Site C hydroelectric project on BC’s Peace River (a major tributary of the Mackenzie River) and the oil sands projects around the Athabasca River (a southern tributary) in the basin are just two of the major land use changes that are impacting the Mackenzie River.
To view the video click here and for more information on the Mackenzie River, click here.
The Mackenzie River system.
Part of the Mackenzie River delta.
Written by Rick Taylor, Director of the BBM.