{{Infobox river | name = Burnside River | image = | image_caption = | pushpin_map = Canada Nunavut | pushpin_map_size = | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = [[Canada]] | subdivision_type2 = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Territory]] | subdivision_name2 = [[Nunavut]] | source1 = [[Contwoyto Lake]] | source1_coordinates= {{coord|66|2|36|N|111|14|33|W|type:waterbody_region:CA-NU|name=Contwoyto Lake (Burnside River)}} | source1_elevation = {{Cvt|444|m}} <!-- elevation of Contwoyto Lake, source Toporama --> | mouth = [[Bathurst Inlet]] | mouth_location = [[Bathurst Inlet, Nunavut]] | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|66|51|N|108|04|W|type:waterbody_region:CA-NU|display=title,inline|name=Burnside River}} | mouth_elevation = {{Cvt|0|m}} | length = | basin_size = {{cvt|16800|km2}}<ref name=wateroffice/> | discharge1_min = {{convert|46.8|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name=wateroffice/> | discharge1_avg = {{convert|135|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name=wateroffice/> | discharge1_max = {{convert|313|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name=wateroffice/> }} The '''Burnside River''' is a river in the [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Canadian territory]] of [[Nunavut]]. It has its headwaters at [[Contwoyto Lake]], flows across the [[Precambrian Shield]]'s Contwoyto Plateau, flows through isolated and rugged [[tundra]], into [[Lake Kathawachaga]], and through the Wilberforce Hills region. Before emptying into [[Bathurst Inlet]] on the [[Arctic Ocean]], the [[Mara River (Nunavut)|Mara River]] empties into the Burnside River.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.anglerweb.com/anglerWeb/fishingspots/spotdetails.aspx?LocationID=12101 |title=Mara River |publisher=anglerweb.com |accessdate=2008-01-24}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> The river has an island, Nadlak, historically notable for [[Inuit]] use of caribou antlers as hut roof infrastructures.

The river is surrounded by continuous [[permafrost]]. It is migratory crossing path of Bathurst [[barren-ground caribou]]. Wildlife includes [[Arctic wolf]], [[grizzly bears]] and [[muskox]], while birds include [[golden eagle]], [[rough-legged hawk]] and [[gyrfalcon]]. [[Arctic char]], [[Arctic grayling]], [[lake trout]], and [[Freshwater whitefish|whitefish]] are also found in the river. Plants along the shoreline include [[dwarf willow]] and [[alder]], plus 125 different [[wild flowers]].<ref name="nahanni">{{cite web |url=http://www.nahanni.com/tripsearch/?river=Burnside+River |title=The Burnside River in Nunavut |publisher=nahanni.com |accessdate=2008-01-24}}</ref>

[[Copper Inuit]] artifacts and gravestones are located in the Burnside River area, along with trade items (needles, tools) they received from [[Dene]]. The area was explored in 1821 and 1822 by Sir [[John Franklin]].<ref name="nahanni"/> From 1930 to 1964, a [[Hudson's Bay Company]] trading post operated at the river's mouth where the community of [[Bathurst Inlet, Nunavut|Bathurst Inlet]] formed.<ref name=HBC>{{cite web |title=Hudson's Bay Company: Bathurst Inlet |url=https://pam.minisisinc.com/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/PAM_AUTHORITY/AUTH_DESC_DET_REP/SISN%202076?sessionsearch |website=pam.minisisinc.com |publisher=Archives of Manitoba - Keystone Archives Descriptive Database |access-date=2025-01-28}}</ref> Present day, it is a popular wilderness whitewater canoe route, offering long stretches of continuous whitewater, as well as several more challenging sets of rapids.<ref name="nahanni"/>

Over the period 1976 to 2022, the Burnside River has a mean flow of {{convert|135|m3/s|cuft/s}}. Mean minimal flow is {{convert|48.6|m3/s|cuft/s}} and mean maximum flow is {{convert|313|m3/s|cuft/s}}. Record maximum flow was {{convert|995|m3/s|cuft/s}} in June 2001, while record minimum flow was {{convert|0|m3/s|cuft/s}} in April 1983.<ref name=wateroffice>{{cite web |title=Monthly Discharge Data for BURNSIDE RIVER NEAR THE MOUTH (10QC001) [NU] |url=https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/report/historical_e.html?stn=10QC001&dataType=Monthly&parameterType=Flow&first_year=1976&last_year=2022&mode=Table&page=historical&year=2022&start_year=1850&end_year=2025 |website=wateroffice.ec.gc.ca |publisher=Environment Canada |access-date=29 January 2025}}</ref>

==See also== *[[List of rivers of Nunavut]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.agpix.com/view_caption.php?image_id=134870 Photo of Burnside River and Nadlak Island]

{{Nunavut}} {{Rivers of Nunavut}}

[[Category:Rivers of the Kitikmeot Region]]

{{Nunavut-river-stub}}