The New International Encyclopædia/Mackenzie River

MACKENZIE RIVER. A river of the Dominion of Canada, one of the longest streams of North America, first explored in 1789 by Alexander Mackenzie, from whom it derives its name (Map: Canada, E 3). It has its origin under the name of Athabasca River near Mount Brown, in the Rocky Mountains, on the eastern borders of British Columbia, and after a north-northeast course of 687 miles falls into Lake Athabasca. Emerging from this lake as the Slave River, it receives the Peace River, and after another course of 210 miles empties into Great Slave Lake (q.v.). It thence assumes the name of Mackenzie River, and conveys the waters of Great Slave Lake to the Arctic Ocean at Mackenzie Bay. Estimated total length, 2500 miles; area of basin, 590,000 square miles. After leaving Great Slave Lake it receives the waters of Great Bear Lake. Its upper course lies through a fertile and well-timbered district, and there is an extensive deposit of lignite along its lower course and estuary. On its banks are Forts Simpson, Norman, and Good Hope. In many places it is more than a mile in width, and during the summer months is navigated by the steamboats of the Hudson's Bay Company throughout the greater part of its course from Great Slave Lake to the Arctic Ocean. There is only one obstruction and that not a serious one, occurring near Fort Good Hope, about latitude 66° N.