Great Bear River

The 113-kilometre-long (70 mi) Great Bear River, which drains the Great Bear Lake westward through marshes into the Mackenzie River, forms an important transportation link during its four ice-free months. It originates at south-west bay of the lake. The river has irregular meander pattern 350-metre-wide (1,150 ft) channel with average depth 6 metres (20 ft). Historic air photos show no evidence of bank erosion or channel migration in a 50-year period.

Great Bear River
Great Bear River exits Great Bear Lake near Deline
Native nameSahtúdé (Slave)
Location
CountryCanada
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationGreat Bear Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada
  coordinates65°08′03″N 123°30′45″W
  elevation186 m (610 ft)
MouthMackenzie River
  location
Tulita, Northwest Territories, Canada
  coordinates
64°54′21″N 125°36′12″W
  elevation
60 m (200 ft)
Length113 km (70 mi)
Basin size156,500 km2 (60,400 sq mi)
Discharge 
  locationMackenzie River
  average528 m3/s (18,600 cu ft/s)
  maximum995 m3/s (35,100 cu ft/s)

The low discharge rate is due to small amount of precipitation in watershed area. Great Bear River contained open reaches that had melted out in place over 80 percent of its length in 1972 and 1974.

The settlement of Tulita is located at the mouth of the river.

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