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List of longest rivers of Canada facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Canada is a huge country, and it's home to some incredibly long rivers! These rivers are like giant watery highways that flow across the land, connecting different places and even crossing into other countries.

This article explores the longest rivers of Canada. We're talking about rivers that stretch for at least 600 kilometers (about 373 miles). Some rivers are measured by their main channel, called the main stem. Others are measured by adding the length of their main stem to one or more of their biggest connecting streams, called tributaries. We won't be looking at very short rivers that just connect lakes, or rivers that mostly flow outside of Canada, even if some of their smaller branches reach into Canada.

Many of these long rivers cross international borders or form them. For example, the Yukon River, Columbia River, Porcupine River, and Kootenay River all start in Canada and flow into the United States. On the other hand, the Milk River, Pend d'Oreille River, Saint Lawrence River, Red River, and Saint John River begin in the United States and flow into Canada. The Milk and Kootenay rivers are special because they cross the border twice! Even if a river stays entirely within Canada, its drainage basin (the area of land where all the water flows into that river) might extend into the United States. This is true for rivers like the Fraser River, Assiniboine River, and Saskatchewan River.

Canada's Longest Rivers: A Closer Look

The information in the table below comes mostly from The Atlas of Canada. The "discharge" means how much water flows out of the river at its end, unless noted otherwise. You'll see U.S. states written in italic letters.

Here's a quick guide to the symbols in the table:

Key
River is not entirely within Canada. This river does not flow entirely within Canada.
Watershed is not entirely within Canada. The area of land that drains into this river is not entirely within Canada.
Longest rivers of Canada
# Name Where it Ends Length Where it Starts Watershed
Area		 Water Flow
(Discharge)		 Provinces,
States		 Image
1 Mackenzie River Beaufort Sea
69°21′59″N 133°54′10″W / 69.36639°N 133.90278°W / 69.36639; -133.90278 (Mackenzie River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&04241.&&&&&04,241 km
2,635 mi
 Thutade Lake
56°44′00″N 127°31′00″W / 56.73333°N 127.51667°W / 56.73333; -127.51667 (Finlay River (source))		 &&&&&&&&01805200.&&&&&01,805,200 km2
697,000 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&09700.&&&&&09,700 m3/s
340,000 ft3/s		 Northwest Territories
A frozen river passes through flat country. Short trees grow on the riverbanks; tall mountains are in the far distance.
2 Yukon River Bering Sea
62°35′55″N 164°48′00″W / 62.59861°N 164.80000°W / 62.59861; -164.80000 (Yukon River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&03185.&&&&&03,185 km
1,979 mi
dagger		 Teslin Lake
59°37′00″N 132°09′00″W / 59.61667°N 132.15000°W / 59.61667; -132.15000 (Yukon River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&0839200.&&&&&0839,200 km2
324,000 mi2
double-dagger		 &&&&&&&&&&&06340.&&&&&06,340 m3/s
224,000 ft3/s		 British Columbia, Yukon, Alaska
Sunset over a large river flowing through mountains.
3 Saint Lawrence River Gulf of Saint Lawrence
49°40′00″N 64°30′00″W / 49.66667°N 64.50000°W / 49.66667; -64.50000 (Saint Lawrence River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&03058.&&&&&03,058 km
1,900 mi
dagger		 Seven Beaver Lake
47°30′04″N 91°49′51″W / 47.50111°N 91.83083°W / 47.50111; -91.83083 (Saint Louis River (source))		 &&&&&&&&01344200.&&&&&01,344,200 km2
519,000 mi2
double-dagger		 &&&&&&&&&&&09850.&&&&&09,850 m3/s
348,000 ft3/s		 Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ontario, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Quebec
A large ship travels along a large river bordered by vegetation on one bank and urban development on the other.
4 Nelson River Hudson Bay
57°04′05″N 92°30′08″W / 57.06806°N 92.50222°W / 57.06806; -92.50222 (Nelson River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&02575.&&&&&02,575 km
1,600 mi
 Bow Glacier
51°40′00″N 116°27′00″W / 51.66667°N 116.45000°W / 51.66667; -116.45000 (Bow River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&0892300.&&&&&0892,300 km2
344,500 mi2
double-dagger		 &&&&&&&&&&&02370.&&&&&02,370 m3/s
84,000 ft3/s		 Manitoba
Native people sit in canoes along the shore of a very wide flat river.
5 Slave River Great Slave Lake
61°18′00″N 113°40′04″W / 61.30000°N 113.66778°W / 61.30000; -113.66778 (Slave River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&02338.&&&&&02,338 km
1,453 mi
 Thutade Lake
56°44′00″N 127°31′00″W / 56.73333°N 127.51667°W / 56.73333; -127.51667 (Finlay River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&0616400.&&&&&0616,400 km2
238,000 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&03437.&&&&&03,437 m3/s
121,400 ft3/s		 Alberta, Northwest Territories
White birds with wide orange beaks swim near a rocky ledge of a swift wide river.
6 Columbia River Pacific Ocean
46°14′39″N 124°03′29″W / 46.24417°N 124.05806°W / 46.24417; -124.05806 (Columbia River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&02000.&&&&&02,000 km
1,243 mi
dagger		 Columbia Lake
50°09′53″N 115°50′19″W / 50.16472°N 115.83861°W / 50.16472; -115.83861 (Columbia River source)		 &&&&&&&&&0671300.&&&&&0671,300 km2
259,200 mi2
double-dagger		 &&&&&&&&&&&07730.&&&&&07,730 m3/s
273,000 ft3/s		 British Columbia, Washington, Oregon
A large river flows through a wooded gorge.
7 Saskatchewan River Lake Winnipeg
53°11′20″N 99°15′18″W / 53.18889°N 99.25500°W / 53.18889; -99.25500 (Saskatchewan River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&01939.&&&&&01,939 km
1,205 mi
 Bow Glacier
51°40′00″N 116°27′00″W / 51.66667°N 116.45000°W / 51.66667; -116.45000 (Bow River (source))
&&&&&&&&&0335900.&&&&&0335,900 km2
129,700 mi2
double-dagger		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0700.&&&&&0700 m3/s
25,000 ft3/s		 Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba
A wide river flows under a bridge.
8 Peace River Slave River
59°00′01″N 111°24′47″W / 59.00028°N 111.41306°W / 59.00028; -111.41306 (Peace River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&01923.&&&&&01,923 km
1,195 mi
 Thutade Lake
56°44′00″N 127°31′00″W / 56.73333°N 127.51667°W / 56.73333; -127.51667 (Finlay River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&0302500.&&&&&0302,500 km2
116,800 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&02118.&&&&&02,118 m3/s
74,800 ft3/s		 British Columbia, Alberta
Brilliant sunset over a wide river flowing through woods
9 Churchill River (Hudson Bay) Hudson Bay
58°47′45″N 94°12′15″W / 58.79583°N 94.20417°W / 58.79583; -94.20417 (Churchill River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&01609.&&&&&01,609 km
1,000 mi
 Churchill Lake
55°49′02″N 108°22′52″W / 55.81722°N 108.38111°W / 55.81722; -108.38111 (Churchill River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&0281300.&&&&&0281,300 km2
108,600 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&01200.&&&&&01,200 m3/s
42,000 ft3/s		 Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba
A medium-sized river rushes through rapids in the woods.
10 South Saskatchewan River Saskatchewan River
53°15′00″N 105°05′02″W / 53.25000°N 105.08389°W / 53.25000; -105.08389 (South Saskatchewan River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&01392.&&&&&01,392 km
865 mi
 Bow Glacier
51°40′00″N 116°27′00″W / 51.66667°N 116.45000°W / 51.66667; -116.45000 (Bow River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&0146100.&&&&&0146,100 km2
56,400 mi2
double-dagger		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0280.&&&&&0280 m3/s
9,900  ft3/s		 Alberta, Saskatchewan
The surface of a wide river approaching a city is almost completely frozen.
11 Fraser River Strait of Georgia
49°07′00″N 123°10′59″W / 49.11667°N 123.18306°W / 49.11667; -123.18306 (Fraser River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&01375.&&&&&01,375 km
854 mi		 Fraser Pass
52°32′01″N 118°19′39″W / 52.53361°N 118.32750°W / 52.53361; -118.32750 (Fraser River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&0233100.&&&&&0233,100 km2
90,000 mi2
double-dagger		 &&&&&&&&&&&03540.&&&&&03,540 m3/s
125,000 ft3/s		 British Columbia
Men in canoes descend wild rapids in a river canyon.
12 North Saskatchewan River Saskatchewan River
53°15′00″N 105°05′02″W / 53.25000°N 105.08389°W / 53.25000; -105.08389 (North Saskatchewan River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&01287.&&&&&01,287 km
800 mi		 Saskatchewan Glacier
52°14′33″N 117°09′05″W / 52.24250°N 117.15139°W / 52.24250; -117.15139 (North Saskatchewan River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&0122800.&&&&&0122,800 km2
47,400 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0245.&&&&&0245 m3/s
8,700 ft3/s		 Alberta, Saskatchewan
A wide river winds by a fenced overlook opposite a forest. The setting sun illuminates a partly cloudy sky.
13 Ottawa River Saint Lawrence River
45°33′59″N 74°23′11″W / 45.56639°N 74.38639°W / 45.56639; -74.38639 (Ottawa River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&01271.&&&&&01,271 km
790 mi		 Laurentian Mountains
47°36′00″N 75°43′40″W / 47.60000°N 75.72778°W / 47.60000; -75.72778 (Ottawa River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&0146300.&&&&&0146,300 km2
56,500 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&01950.&&&&&01,950 m3/s
69,000 ft3/s		 Quebec, Ontario
A dock extends from the shore of an extremely wide river.
14 Athabasca River Lake Athabasca
58°59′05″N 110°51′23″W / 58.98472°N 110.85639°W / 58.98472; -110.85639 (Athabasca River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&01231.&&&&&01,231 km
765 mi		 Columbia Icefield
52°11′14″N 117°28′27″W / 52.18722°N 117.47417°W / 52.18722; -117.47417 (Athabasca River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&095300.&&&&&095,300 km2
36,800 mi2
 &&&&&&&&&&&&0783.&&&&&0783 m3/s
27,700 ft3/s		 Alberta
A river flows by a cliff and through a snow-covered forest.
15 Liard River MacKenzie River
61°50′55″N 121°18′35″W / 61.84861°N 121.30972°W / 61.84861; -121.30972 (Liard River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&01115.&&&&&01,115 km
693 mi		 Saint Cyr Range
61°11′08″N 131°45′36″W / 61.18556°N 131.76000°W / 61.18556; -131.76000 (Liard River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&0277100.&&&&&0277,100 km2
107,000 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&02446.&&&&&02,446 m3/s
86,400 ft3/s		 Yukon, British Columbia, Northwest Territories
A wide flat river flows along a rocky shore toward a mountain range in the far distance.
16 Assiniboine River Red River
49°53′09″N 97°07′41″W / 49.88583°N 97.12806°W / 49.88583; -97.12806 (Assiniboine River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&01070.&&&&&01,070 km
660 mi		 near Hazel Dell
52°15′53″N 103°08′48″W / 52.26472°N 103.14667°W / 52.26472; -103.14667 (Assiniboine River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&0182000.&&&&&0182,000 km2
70,000 mi2
double-dagger		 &&&&&&&&&&&&&045.&&&&&045 m3/s
1,600 ft3/s		 Saskatchewan, Manitoba
A muddy river floods a wooded urban area with boat docks and riverside seating.
17 Milk River Missouri River
48°03′26″N 106°19′07″W / 48.05722°N 106.31861°W / 48.05722; -106.31861 (Milk River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&01005.&&&&&01,005 km
625 mi
dagger		 Blackfeet Indian Reservation
48°51′20″N 113°01′10″W / 48.85556°N 113.01944°W / 48.85556; -113.01944 (Milk River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&061200.&&&&&061,200 km2
23,600 mi2
double-dagger		 &&&&&&&&&&&&&018.90000018.9 m3/s
670 ft3/s		 Alberta, Montana
A small river winds through a rocky, grass-covered plateau. Hills rise in the distance.
18 Albany River James Bay
52°17′00″N 81°30′59″W / 52.28333°N 81.51639°W / 52.28333; -81.51639 (Albany River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0982.&&&&&0982 km
610 mi
 Cat Lake
51°45′00″N 91°53′00″W / 51.75000°N 91.88333°W / 51.75000; -91.88333 (Cat River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&0135200.&&&&&0135,200 km2
52,200 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0251.&&&&&0251 m3/s
8,900 ft3/s
 Ontario
Large trucks, widely spaced, travel single-file across a frozen river.
19 Severn River Hudson Bay
56°03′22″N 87°34′36″W / 56.05611°N 87.57667°W / 56.05611; -87.57667 (Severn River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0982.&&&&&0982 km
610 mi
 Deer Lake
52°37′00″N 94°40′00″W / 52.61667°N 94.66667°W / 52.61667; -94.66667 (Black Birch River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&0102800.&&&&&0102,800 km2
39,700 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0645.&&&&&0645 m3/s
22,800 ft3/s
 Ontario
20 Back River Chantrey Inlet
67°16′00″N 95°15′00″W / 67.26667°N 95.25000°W / 67.26667; -95.25000 (Back River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0974.&&&&&0974 km
605 mi
 near Aylmer Lake
64°25′00″N 108°27′00″W / 64.41667°N 108.45000°W / 64.41667; -108.45000 (Back River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&0106500.&&&&&0106,500 km2
41,120 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0612.&&&&&0612 m3/s
21,600 ft3/s		 Northwest Territories, Nunavut
Back River (July 2006).jpg
21 Thelon River Baker Lake
64°16′30″N 96°04′35″W / 64.27500°N 96.07639°W / 64.27500; -96.07639 (Thelon River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0904.&&&&&0904 km
562 mi		 Lynx Lake
62°20′36″N 106°02′18″W / 62.34333°N 106.03833°W / 62.34333; -106.03833 (Thelon River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&0142400.&&&&&0142,400 km2
55,000 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0840.&&&&&0840 m3/s
30,000 ft3/s		 Northwest Territories, Nunavut
A wide river flows slowly through a forest of short, widely spaced evergreen trees.
22 La Grande River James Bay
53°50′03″N 79°03′20″W / 53.83417°N 79.05556°W / 53.83417; -79.05556 (La Grande River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0893.&&&&&0893 km
555 mi		 Lac Nichicun
53°12′30″N 70°56′00″W / 53.20833°N 70.93333°W / 53.20833; -70.93333 (La Grande River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&097600.&&&&&097,600 km2
37,700 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&01690.&&&&&01,690 m3/s
60,000 ft3/s		 Quebec
Sunset over a river winding through thick evergreen forests.
23 Red River Lake Winnipeg
50°23′47″N 96°48′39″W / 50.39639°N 96.81083°W / 50.39639; -96.81083 (Red River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0890.&&&&&0890 km
545 mi
dagger		 Wahpeton and Breckinridge
46°15′52″N 96°35′55″W / 46.26444°N 96.59861°W / 46.26444; -96.59861		 &&&&&&&&&0287500.&&&&&0287,500 km2
111,000 mi2
double-dagger		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0236.&&&&&0236 m3/s
8,300 ft3/s		 North Dakota, Minnesota, Manitoba
A small river flows through a prairie landscape; brown grasses and leafless trees line the banks.
24 Koksoak River Ungava Bay
58°32′11″N 68°09′29″W / 58.53639°N 68.15806°W / 58.53639; -68.15806 (Koksoak River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0874.&&&&&0874 km
543 mi
 Lake Sevestre
52°32′23″N 68°01′15″W / 52.53972°N 68.02083°W / 52.53972; -68.02083 (Caniapiscau River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&0133400.&&&&&0133,400 km2
51,500 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&02800.&&&&&02,800 m3/s
99,000 ft3/s		 Quebec
Kuujjuaq 1909.jpg
25 Churchill River (Atlantic) Lake Melville
53°20′58″N 60°10′39″W / 53.34944°N 60.17750°W / 53.34944; -60.17750 (Churchill River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0856.&&&&&0856 km
532 mi
 Ashuanipi Lake
52°59′20″N 66°14′28″W / 52.98889°N 66.24111°W / 52.98889; -66.24111 (Ashuanipi River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&079800.&&&&&079,800 km2
30,800 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&01580.&&&&&01,580 m3/s
56,000 ft3/s		 Newfoundland and Labrador
A.P. Low Hamilton River Picnic 1894.jpg
26 Coppermine River Coronation Gulf
67°49′09″N 115°03′50″W / 67.81917°N 115.06389°W / 67.81917; -115.06389 (Coppermine River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0845.&&&&&0845 km
525 mi		 Lac de Gras
64°35′02″N 111°11′24″W / 64.58389°N 111.19000°W / 64.58389; -111.19000 (Coppermine River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&050800.&&&&&050,800 km2
19,600 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0262.&&&&&0262 m3/s
9,300 ft3/s
 Northwest Territories, Nunavut
Canoes and tents rest on a sandy spit along a river.
27 Dubawnt River Thelon River
64°32′59″N 100°06′00″W / 64.54972°N 100.10000°W / 64.54972; -100.10000 (Dubawnt River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0842.&&&&&0842 km
523 mi		 Abitau Lake
60°21′00″N 107°09′00″W / 60.35000°N 107.15000°W / 60.35000; -107.15000 (Dubawnt River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&057500.&&&&&057,500 km2
22,200 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0366.&&&&&0366 m3/s
12,900 ft3/s
 Northwest Territories, Nunavut
28 Winnipeg River Lake Winnipeg
50°37′54″N 96°19′13″W / 50.63167°N 96.32028°W / 50.63167; -96.32028 (Winnipeg River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0813.&&&&&0813 km
505 mi
 Trap Lake
49°12′42″N 90°26′58″W / 49.21167°N 90.44944°W / 49.21167; -90.44944 (Winnipeg River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&0135800.&&&&&0135,800 km2
52,400 mi2
double-dagger		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0850.&&&&&0850 m3/s
30,000 ft3/s		 Ontario, Manitoba
Men in canoes approach a tent encampment along a wide river.
29 Kootenay River Columbia River
49°19′0″N 117°39′0″W / 49.31667°N 117.65000°W / 49.31667; -117.65000		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0780.&&&&&0780 km
485 mi
dagger		 Beaverfoot Range
51°03′21″N 116°21′55″W / 51.05583°N 116.36528°W / 51.05583; -116.36528 (Kootenay River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&050300.&&&&&050,300 km2
19,400 mi2
double-dagger		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0850.&&&&&0850 m3/s
30,000 ft3/s		 British Columbia, Montana, Idaho
A river flows through forested hills.
30 Nottaway River James Bay
51°22′33″N 78°55′45″W / 51.37583°N 78.92917°W / 51.37583; -78.92917 (Nottaway River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0776.&&&&&0776 km
482 mi
Lake Gilles
48°07′00″N 75°38′00″W / 48.11667°N 75.63333°W / 48.11667; -75.63333 (Megiscane River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&065800.&&&&&065,800 km2
25,400 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&01190.&&&&&01,190 m3/s
42000 ft3/s		 Quebec
31 Rupert River James Bay
51°29′35″N 78°45′01″W / 51.49306°N 78.75028°W / 51.49306; -78.75028 (Rupert River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0763.&&&&&0763 km
474 mi
 north of Lake Mistassini
52°13′11″N 71°32′19″W / 52.21972°N 71.53861°W / 52.21972; -71.53861 (Temiscamie River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&043400.&&&&&043,400 km2
16,800 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0900.&&&&&0900 m3/s
32,000 ft3/s		 Quebec
A medium-sized river plunges down rapids surrounded by forests.
32 Eastmain River James Bay
52°14′30″N 78°33′38″W / 52.24167°N 78.56056°W / 52.24167; -78.56056 (Eastmain River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0756.&&&&&0756 km
470 mi		 Lac Bréhat
52°31′30″N 70°52′00″W / 52.52500°N 70.86667°W / 52.52500; -70.86667 (Eastmain River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&046400.&&&&&046,400 km2
17,900 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0930.&&&&&0930 m3/s
33,000 ft3/s		 Quebec
A frozen river winds through a snowy forest.
33 Attawapiskat River James Bay
52°57′12″N 82°17′43″W / 52.95333°N 82.29528°W / 52.95333; -82.29528 (Attawapiskat River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0748.&&&&&0748 km
465 mi
 Attawapiskat Lake
52°10′00″N 87°37′00″W / 52.16667°N 87.61667°W / 52.16667; -87.61667 (Attawapiskat River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&050500.&&&&&050,500 km2
19,500 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0263.&&&&&0263 m3/s
9,300 ft3/s
 Ontario
34 Kazan River Thelon River
64°02′30″N 95°29′04″W / 64.04167°N 95.48444°W / 64.04167; -95.48444 (Kazan River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0732.&&&&&0732 km
455 mi
 Ennadai Lake
60°55′00″N 101°20′00″W / 60.91667°N 101.33333°W / 60.91667; -101.33333 (Kazan River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&071500.&&&&&071,500 km2
27,600 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0540.&&&&&0540 m3/s
19,000 ft3/s		 Nunavut
Kazan river's first rapid of note after Angikuni Lake.jpg
35 Red Deer River South Saskatchewan River
50°58′05″N 110°00′00″W / 50.96806°N 110.00000°W / 50.96806; -110.00000 (Red Deer River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0724.&&&&&0724 km
450 mi		 Sawback Range
51°32′19″N 116°02′46″W / 51.53861°N 116.04611°W / 51.53861; -116.04611 (Red Deer River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&045100.&&&&&045,100 km2
17,400 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&&&070.&&&&&070 m3/s
2,500 ft3/s		 Alberta
A suspension bridge crosses a wide river.
36 Great Whale River Hudson Bay
55°15′58″N 77°47′04″W / 55.26611°N 77.78444°W / 55.26611; -77.78444 (Great Whale River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0724.&&&&&0724 km
450 mi		 Lake Saint-Lusson
54°49′30″N 70°32′17″W / 54.82500°N 70.53806°W / 54.82500; -70.53806 (Great Whale River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&042700.&&&&&042,700 km2
16,500 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0680.&&&&&0680 m3/s
24,000 ft3/s		 Quebec
Establishing at Great Whale River Preliminary Camp 1922.jpg
37 Porcupine River Yukon River
66°35′42″N 145°18′32″W / 66.59500°N 145.30889°W / 66.59500; -145.30889 (Porcupine River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0721.&&&&&0721 km
448 mi
dagger		 Ogilvie Mountains
66°32′10″N 138°22′16″W / 66.53611°N 138.37111°W / 66.53611; -138.37111 (Porcupine River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&0117900.&&&&&0117,900 km2
45,500 mi2
double-dagger		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0414.&&&&&0414 m3/s
14,600 ft3/s		 Yukon, Alaska
A wide river curves by a rocky shore and across a flat plain.
38 Pend d'Oreille River Columbia River
48°59′59″N 117°37′00″W / 48.99972°N 117.61667°W / 48.99972; -117.61667 (Pend d'Oreille River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0703.&&&&&0703 km
437 mi
dagger		 near Butte
46°04′32″N 112°27′56″W / 46.07556°N 112.46556°W / 46.07556; -112.46556 (Silver Bow Creek (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&066900.&&&&&066,900 km2
25,800 mi2
double-dagger		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0820.&&&&&0820 m3/s
29,000 ft3/s		 Idaho, Washington, British Columbia
A two-part dam, connected in the middle by an island, blocks a large river downstream of a railroad bridge.
39 Hay River Great Slave Lake
60°51′50″N 115°44′04″W / 60.86389°N 115.73444°W / 60.86389; -115.73444 (Hay River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0702.&&&&&0702 km
436 mi		 near Zama Lake
58°14′14″N 118°51′34″W / 58.23722°N 118.85944°W / 58.23722; -118.85944 (Hay River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&048200.&&&&&048,200 km2
18,600 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0113.&&&&&0113 m3/s
4,000 ft3/s		 Alberta, Northwest Territories
A medium-sized river flows in bright sunlight through a forest.
40 Saguenay River Saint Lawrence River
48°07′59″N 69°43′59″W / 48.13306°N 69.73306°W / 48.13306; -69.73306 (Saguenay River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0698.&&&&&0698 km
434 mi
 near Otish Mountains
52°16′17″N 70°48′38″W / 52.27139°N 70.81056°W / 52.27139; -70.81056 (Saguenay River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&088000.&&&&&088,000 km2
34,000 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&01750.&&&&&01,750 m3/s
62,000 ft3/s		 Quebec
A very wide river flows between low lines of hills.
41 Anderson River Beaufort Sea
69°43′00″N 129°00′09″W / 69.71667°N 129.00250°W / 69.71667; -129.00250 (Anderson River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0692.&&&&&0692 km
430 mi		 northwest of Great Bear Lake
66°57′00″N 124°36′00″W / 66.95000°N 124.60000°W / 66.95000; -124.60000 (Anderson River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0142.&&&&&0142 m3/s
5,000 ft3/s
 Northwest Territories
42 Peel River Mackenzie River
67°41′49″N 134°31′58″W / 67.69694°N 134.53278°W / 67.69694; -134.53278 (Peel River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0684.&&&&&0684 km
425 mi
 Gill Lake
65°19′00″N 139°49′00″W / 65.31667°N 139.81667°W / 65.31667; -139.81667 (Ogilvie River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&073600.&&&&&073,600 km2
28,400 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0103.&&&&&0103 m3/s
3,600 ft3/s		 Yukon, Northwest Territories
Line5237 (32084739465).jpg
43 Saint John River Bay of Fundy
45°16′00″N 66°04′00″W / 45.26667°N 66.06667°W / 45.26667; -66.06667 (Saint John River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0673.&&&&&0673 km
418 mi
dagger		 Somerset County
46°33′47″N 69°53′05″W / 46.56306°N 69.88472°W / 46.56306; -69.88472 (Saint John River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&055200.&&&&&055,200 km2
21,300 mi2
double-dagger		 &&&&&&&&&&&01130.&&&&&01,130 m3/s
40,000 ft3/s		 Maine, New Brunswick
A flooding river has inundated roads, trees, and an elegant building.
44 Stewart River Yukon River
63°17′30″N 139°24′42″W / 63.29167°N 139.41167°W / 63.29167; -139.41167 (Stewart River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0644.&&&&&0644 km
400 mi		 Selwyn Mountains
64°06′35″N 131°42′25″W / 64.10972°N 131.70694°W / 64.10972; -131.70694 (Stewart River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&051000.&&&&&051,000 km2
20,000 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0675.&&&&&0675 m3/s
23,800 ft3/s		 Yukon
A wide river flows through hills. A sign in the foreground says "Stewart River".
45 Horton River Franklin Bay
69°56′00″N 126°48′09″W / 69.93333°N 126.80250°W / 69.93333; -126.80250 (Horton River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0618.&&&&&0618 km
384 mi		 Kitikmeot Region, Nunavut
67°51′00″N 120°33′00″W / 67.85000°N 120.55000°W / 67.85000; -120.55000 (Horton River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&026680.&&&&&026,680 km2
10,300 mi2		 Nunavut, Northwest Territories
A big river winds across a plain near a bluff.
46 English River Winnipeg River
50°12′04″N 95°00′12″W / 50.20111°N 95.00333°W / 50.20111; -95.00333 (English River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0615.&&&&&0615 km
382 mi		 near Marmion Lake
49°06′00″N 91°16′00″W / 49.10000°N 91.26667°W / 49.10000; -91.26667 (English River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&052300.&&&&&052,300 km2
20,200 mi2		 Ontario
47 Pelly River Yukon River
62°46′46″N 137°20′13″W / 62.77944°N 137.33694°W / 62.77944; -137.33694 (Pelly River (mouth))		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0608.&&&&&0608 km
378 mi		 Mackenzie Mountains
62°49′00″N 129°53′00″W / 62.81667°N 129.88333°W / 62.81667; -129.88333 (Pelly River (source))		 &&&&&&&&&&051000.&&&&&051,000 km2
20,000 mi2		 &&&&&&&&&&&&0410.&&&&&0410 m3/s
14,000 ft3/s		 Yukon
A wide river winds through a forest and by a town.

Images for kids

  • Longest Rivers of Canada

    Rivers on this list shown on a map of Canada

  • Mackenzie River basin map

    The Mackenzie River is the longest stream in Canada. It's measured from its mouth on the Beaufort Sea to the start of the Finlay River. The main part of the Mackenzie River is shown in dark blue.

See also

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List of longest rivers of Canada Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.