# Burnside River

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River in Nunavut, Canada

Burnside River Location Country Canada Territory Nunavut Physical characteristics Source Contwoyto Lake • coordinates 66°2′36″N 111°14′33″W / 66.04333°N 111.24250°W / 66.04333; -111.24250 (Contwoyto Lake (Burnside River)) • elevation 444 m (1,457 ft) Mouth Bathurst Inlet • location Bathurst Inlet, Nunavut • coordinates 66°51′N 108°04′W / 66.850°N 108.067°W / 66.850; -108.067 (Burnside River) • elevation 0 m (0 ft) Basin size 16,800 km2 (6,500 sq mi)[1] Discharge • average 135 m3/s (4,800 cu ft/s)[1] • minimum 46.8 m3/s (1,650 cu ft/s)[1] • maximum 313 m3/s (11,100 cu ft/s)[1]

The **Burnside River** is a river in the [Canadian territory](/source/Provinces_and_territories_of_Canada) of [Nunavut](/source/Nunavut). It has its headwaters at [Contwoyto Lake](/source/Contwoyto_Lake), flows across the [Precambrian Shield](/source/Precambrian_Shield)'s Contwoyto Plateau, flows through isolated and rugged [tundra](/source/Tundra), into [Lake Kathawachaga](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lake_Kathawachaga&action=edit&redlink=1), and through the Wilberforce Hills region. Before emptying into [Bathurst Inlet](/source/Bathurst_Inlet) on the [Arctic Ocean](/source/Arctic_Ocean), the [Mara River](/source/Mara_River_(Nunavut)) empties into the Burnside River.[2] The river has an island, Nadlak, historically notable for [Inuit](/source/Inuit) use of caribou antlers as hut roof infrastructures.

The river is surrounded by continuous [permafrost](/source/Permafrost). It is migratory crossing path of Bathurst [barren-ground caribou](/source/Barren-ground_caribou). Wildlife includes [Arctic wolf](/source/Arctic_wolf), [grizzly bears](/source/Grizzly_bears) and [muskox](/source/Muskox), while birds include [golden eagle](/source/Golden_eagle), [rough-legged hawk](/source/Rough-legged_hawk) and [gyrfalcon](/source/Gyrfalcon). [Arctic char](/source/Arctic_char), [Arctic grayling](/source/Arctic_grayling), [lake trout](/source/Lake_trout), and [whitefish](/source/Freshwater_whitefish) are also found in the river. Plants along the shoreline include [dwarf willow](/source/Dwarf_willow) and [alder](/source/Alder), plus 125 different [wild flowers](/source/Wild_flowers).[3]

[Copper Inuit](/source/Copper_Inuit) artifacts and gravestones are located in the Burnside River area, along with trade items (needles, tools) they received from [Dene](/source/Dene). The area was explored in 1821 and 1822 by Sir [John Franklin](/source/John_Franklin).[3] From 1930 to 1964, a [Hudson's Bay Company](/source/Hudson's_Bay_Company) trading post operated at the river's mouth where the community of [Bathurst Inlet](/source/Bathurst_Inlet%2C_Nunavut) formed.[4] 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.[3]

Over the period 1976 to 2022, the Burnside River has a mean flow of 135 cubic metres per second (4,800 cu ft/s). Mean minimal flow is 48.6 cubic metres per second (1,720 cu ft/s) and mean maximum flow is 313 cubic metres per second (11,100 cu ft/s). Record maximum flow was 995 cubic metres per second (35,100 cu ft/s) in June 2001, while record minimum flow was 0 cubic metres per second (0 cu ft/s) in April 1983.[1]

## See also

- [List of rivers of Nunavut](/source/List_of_rivers_of_Nunavut)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wateroffice_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wateroffice_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-wateroffice_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-wateroffice_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-wateroffice_1-4) ["Monthly Discharge Data for BURNSIDE RIVER NEAR THE MOUTH (10QC001) \[NU\]"](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). *wateroffice.ec.gc.ca*. Environment Canada. Retrieved 29 January 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Mara River"](http://www.anglerweb.com/anglerWeb/fishingspots/spotdetails.aspx?LocationID=12101). anglerweb.com. Retrieved 2008-01-24. [*[dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nahanni_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nahanni_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-nahanni_3-2) ["The Burnside River in Nunavut"](http://www.nahanni.com/tripsearch/?river=Burnside+River). nahanni.com. Retrieved 2008-01-24.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-HBC_4-0)** ["Hudson's Bay Company: Bathurst Inlet"](https://pam.minisisinc.com/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/PAM_AUTHORITY/AUTH_DESC_DET_REP/SISN%202076?sessionsearch). *pam.minisisinc.com*. Archives of Manitoba - Keystone Archives Descriptive Database. Retrieved 2025-01-28.

## External links

- [Photo of Burnside River and Nadlak Island](http://www.agpix.com/view_caption.php?image_id=134870)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Burnside River](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnside_River) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnside_River?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.