{{Short description|Canadian Heritage River in Nunavut, Canada}} {{Use Canadian English|date=June 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox river | name = Kazan River | name_native = | name_native_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology = <!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP --> | image = Kazan_Falls.jpg | image_caption = Kazan Falls, on the lower Kazan River | image_size = 240px | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Canada Nunavut#Canada | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption = Kazan River mouth location <!---------------------- LOCATION --> | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = [[Canada]] | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = <!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS --> | length = {{cvt|1000|km}} | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location = | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max = <!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES --> | source1 = [[Kasba Lake]] | source1_location = [[Northwest Territories]] | source1_coordinates = {{coord|60|34|22|N|102|08|47|W|display=inline}} | source1_elevation = | mouth = [[Baker Lake (Nunavut)|Baker Lake]] | mouth_location = near [[Chesterfield Inlet]], [[Kivalliq Region]], [[Nunavut]] | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|64|2|30|N|95|29|5|W|display=inline,title}} | mouth_elevation = {{cvt|2|m}} | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = {{cvt|71500|km2}} | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = <ref>{{cite web | title = Natural Resources Canada-Canadian Geographical Names (Kazan River) | url = http://www4.rncan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/OAIRU | access-date =2014-08-29}}</ref><ref name= "Atlas of Canada">{{cite web | title =Atlas of Canada Toporama | url =http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/toporama/index.html | access-date =2014-08-29}}</ref> }}
The '''Kazan River''' ([[Inuktitut]] ''Harvaqtuuq'',<ref name="lkr">[http://www.abebooks.com/Harvaqtuurmiut-Heritage-Inuit-Lower-Kazan-River/796003797/bd Harvaqtuurmiut : The Heritage of the Inuit of the Lower Kazan River]</ref> [[Inuktitut syllabics]] ᓴᕐᕙᖅᑑᖅ;<ref name="khc">[https://archive.today/20130115171659/http://atlas.kitikmeotheritage.ca/kitikmeot_alt/locations/73 Kitikmeot Heritage Centre]</ref> meaning "strong rapids",<ref>[http://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca/sgc-cms/histoires_de_chez_nous-community_memories/pm_v2.php?id=story_line&lg=English&fl=0&ex=00000370&sl=2143&pos=1 Tuhaalruuqtut, Ancestral Sounds]</ref> "the big drift"<ref name="lkr"/> or "place of much fast flowing water"<ref name="khc"/>), is a [[Canadian Heritage Rivers System|Canadian Heritage River]] located in [[Nunavut]], Canada. The Dene name for the river was Kasba-tue meaning "white partridge river." The name was apparently changed to Kazan in the late 19th century due to the influence of Order of Mary Immaculate missionaries.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sikstrom|first=C. B.|date=2012-12-10|title=The Naming of Kazan River, Nunavut, Canada|url=http://arctic.journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/arctic/index.php/arctic/article/view/4241|journal=Arctic|language=en|volume=65|issue=4|pages=433–438|doi=10.14430/arctic4241|issn=1923-1245|access-date=2016-04-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180602152915/https://arctic.journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/arctic/index.php/arctic/article/view/4241|archive-date=2018-06-02|url-status=dead|doi-access=free}}</ref> The river headwaters are in northern [[Saskatchewan]]<ref name="Atlas">[http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/peopleandsociety/nunavut/specialplaces/heritagerivers/1/ "Nunavut: Heritage Rivers"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121224714/http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/peopleandsociety/nunavut/specialplaces/heritagerivers/1/ |date=2013-01-21 }} ''The Atlas of Canada''</ref> at Kasba Lake, and it flows north for about {{convert|1000|km}}<ref name="Atlas"/> before emptying into [[Baker Lake (Nunavut)|Baker Lake]] ({{coord|64|09|00|N|95|30|00|W|type:waterbody_region:CA-NU|name=Baker Lake (Kazan River)}}), on the opposite side of the mouth of the [[Thelon River]]. Along its course the river flows through several lakes, including [[Ennadai Lake]] and [[Yathkyed Lake]], over the Kazan Falls ({{convert|25|m}}), down a red sandstone gorge<ref name="Atlas"/> and through both [[Taiga|boreal forest]] and [[tundra]]. It is the last section of the river, below Ennadai Lake, that is above the [[tree line|timber line]] and is designated a Canadian Heritage River.
== History == The abundance of wildlife along and close to the river attracted both the [[Caribou Inuit]] and the [[Chipewyan]] [[Sayisi Dene]] for about 5,000 years. Originally, the Caribou [[Inuit]] did not live in the area but returned to the coast for the winter. In the 18th century, [[Dene]] use of the area declined and Caribou Inuit, especially the [[Harvaqtuurmiut]] ("people of the Harvaqtuuq") and [[Ihalmiut]] bands, began to live along the river year round.<ref>{{cite book|author=Farley Mowat|title=No Man's River|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OOf6_i100_4C&pg=PA24|year=2006|publisher=Da Capo Press|isbn=978-0-7867-1692-0|page=24}}{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Remnants of Ihalmiut campsites, and those of the Dene may be found along the river. Although the Inuit today no longer live along the river, they do still travel it to hunt and fish.
The first [[Europe]]an to visit the area was [[Samuel Hearne]] in 1770 at Yathkyed Lake. However, the river was not mapped until visited by Canadian geologist and cartographer [[Joseph Tyrrell]] in 1894. Explorer [[Knud Johan Victor Rasmussen|Knud Rasmussen]] also visited the area in 1921–1924 during the Fifth Thule Expedition.
== Recreation == The river has also become a popular destination for [[kayak]]ing and [[canoe]]ists.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.myccr.com/canoeroutes/kazan-river-1|title = Kazan River | Canadian Canoe Routes}}</ref>
== Fauna and flora == Although many species of wildlife may be observed along the river, it is the [[barren-ground caribou]] (Qamanirjuaq and Beverly herds) for which it is most well known. Over 300,000 caribou migrate through the area and it is said to be the largest migration of any land animal. Other wildlife that may be observed in the area include [[muskox]], [[wolverine]], [[peregrine falcon]] and many species of fish.
== Gallery == <gallery> File:Kazan_Falls_Nunavut.jpg|Air view of the lower Kazan River File:Kazan river's first rapid of note after Angikuni Lake.jpg|The river's first rapid of note after [[Angikuni Lake]], summer 2017 File:Kazan river's second rapid of note after Angikuni Lake.jpg|The river's second rapid of note after Angikuni Lake, summer 2017 </gallery>
== See also == * [[List of longest rivers of Canada]] * [[List of rivers of Nunavut]]
== References == {{Reflist}}
== Further reading == * Keith, Darren. ''Inuit place names and land-use history on the Harvaqtuuq (Kazan River), Nunavut Territory''. Thesis (M.A.)--McGill University, 2000, 2000. {{ISBN|0-612-64162-7}}
== External links == *{{Commons category-inline}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060511072046/http://www.nunavutparks.com/on_the_land/kazan_river_about.cfm Kazan River at Nunavut Parks] *[http://www.grdc.sr.unh.edu/html/Polygons/P4214090.html University of New Hampshire/Global Runoff Data Centre]
{{Nunavut}} {{Rivers of Nunavut}} {{Canadian Heritage Rivers System}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Rivers of the Kivalliq Region]] [[Category:Canadian Heritage Rivers]] [[Category:Rivers of the Northwest Territories]]