# Kazan River

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Canadian Heritage River in Nunavut, Canada

Kazan River Kazan Falls, on the lower Kazan River Kazan River mouth location Show map of Nunavut Kazan River (Canada) Show map of Canada Location Country Canada Physical characteristics Source Kasba Lake • location Northwest Territories • coordinates 60°34′22″N 102°08′47″W / 60.57278°N 102.14639°W / 60.57278; -102.14639 Mouth Baker Lake • location near Chesterfield Inlet, Kivalliq Region, Nunavut • coordinates 64°2′30″N 95°29′5″W / 64.04167°N 95.48472°W / 64.04167; -95.48472 • elevation 2 m (6 ft 7 in) Length 1,000 km (620 mi) Basin size 71,500 km2 (27,600 sq mi) [1][2]

The **Kazan River** ([Inuktitut](/source/Inuktitut) *Harvaqtuuq*,[3] [Inuktitut syllabics](/source/Inuktitut_syllabics) ᓴᕐᕙᖅᑑᖅ;[4] meaning "strong rapids",[5] "the big drift"[3] or "place of much fast flowing water"[4]), is a [Canadian Heritage River](/source/Canadian_Heritage_Rivers_System) located in [Nunavut](/source/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.[6] The river headwaters are in northern [Saskatchewan](/source/Saskatchewan)[7] at Kasba Lake, and it flows north for about 1,000 kilometres (620 mi)[7] before emptying into [Baker Lake](/source/Baker_Lake_(Nunavut)) ([64°09′00″N 95°30′00″W / 64.15000°N 95.50000°W / 64.15000; -95.50000 (Baker Lake (Kazan River))](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Kazan_River&params=64_09_00_N_95_30_00_W_type:waterbody_region:CA-NU&title=Baker+Lake+%28Kazan+River%29)), on the opposite side of the mouth of the [Thelon River](/source/Thelon_River). Along its course the river flows through several lakes, including [Ennadai Lake](/source/Ennadai_Lake) and [Yathkyed Lake](/source/Yathkyed_Lake), over the Kazan Falls (25 metres (82 ft)), down a red sandstone gorge[7] and through both [boreal forest](/source/Taiga) and [tundra](/source/Tundra). It is the last section of the river, below Ennadai Lake, that is above the [timber line](/source/Tree_line) and is designated a Canadian Heritage River.

## History

The abundance of wildlife along and close to the river attracted both the [Caribou Inuit](/source/Caribou_Inuit) and the [Chipewyan](/source/Chipewyan) [Sayisi Dene](/source/Sayisi_Dene) for about 5,000 years. Originally, the Caribou [Inuit](/source/Inuit) did not live in the area but returned to the coast for the winter. In the 18th century, [Dene](/source/Dene) use of the area declined and Caribou Inuit, especially the [Harvaqtuurmiut](/source/Harvaqtuurmiut) ("people of the Harvaqtuuq") and [Ihalmiut](/source/Ihalmiut) bands, began to live along the river year round.[8] 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 [European](/source/Europe) to visit the area was [Samuel Hearne](/source/Samuel_Hearne) in 1770 at Yathkyed Lake. However, the river was not mapped until visited by Canadian geologist and cartographer [Joseph Tyrrell](/source/Joseph_Tyrrell) in 1894. Explorer [Knud Rasmussen](/source/Knud_Johan_Victor_Rasmussen) also visited the area in 1921–1924 during the Fifth Thule Expedition.

## Recreation

The river has also become a popular destination for [kayaking](/source/Kayak) and [canoeists](/source/Canoe).[9]

## Fauna and flora

Although many species of wildlife may be observed along the river, it is the [barren-ground caribou](/source/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](/source/Muskox), [wolverine](/source/Wolverine), [peregrine falcon](/source/Peregrine_falcon) and many species of fish.

## Gallery

		- Air view of the lower Kazan River

		- The river's first rapid of note after [Angikuni Lake](/source/Angikuni_Lake), summer 2017

		- The river's second rapid of note after Angikuni Lake, summer 2017

## See also

- [List of longest rivers of Canada](/source/List_of_longest_rivers_of_Canada)

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

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Natural Resources Canada-Canadian Geographical Names (Kazan River)"](http://www4.rncan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/OAIRU). Retrieved 29 August 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Atlas_of_Canada_2-0)** ["Atlas of Canada Toporama"](http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/toporama/index.html). Retrieved 29 August 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-lkr_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-lkr_3-1) [Harvaqtuurmiut : The Heritage of the Inuit of the Lower Kazan River](http://www.abebooks.com/Harvaqtuurmiut-Heritage-Inuit-Lower-Kazan-River/796003797/bd)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-khc_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-khc_4-1) [Kitikmeot Heritage Centre](https://archive.today/20130115171659/http://atlas.kitikmeotheritage.ca/kitikmeot_alt/locations/73)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Tuhaalruuqtut, Ancestral Sounds](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)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Sikstrom, C. B. (10 December 2012). ["The Naming of Kazan River, Nunavut, Canada"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180602152915/https://arctic.journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/arctic/index.php/arctic/article/view/4241). *Arctic*. **65** (4): 433–438. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.14430/arctic4241](https://doi.org/10.14430%2Farctic4241). [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1923-1245](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1923-1245). Archived from [the original](http://arctic.journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/arctic/index.php/arctic/article/view/4241) on 2 June 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Atlas_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Atlas_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Atlas_7-2) ["Nunavut: Heritage Rivers"](http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/peopleandsociety/nunavut/specialplaces/heritagerivers/1/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130121224714/http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/maps/peopleandsociety/nunavut/specialplaces/heritagerivers/1/) 2013-01-21 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) *The Atlas of Canada*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Farley Mowat (2006). [*No Man's River*](https://books.google.com/books?id=OOf6_i100_4C&pg=PA24). Da Capo Press. p. 24. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7867-1692-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7867-1692-0).[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Kazan River | Canadian Canoe Routes"](https://www.myccr.com/canoeroutes/kazan-river-1).

## 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](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-612-64162-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-612-64162-7)

## External links

- Media related to [Kazan River](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Kazan_River) at Wikimedia Commons

- [Kazan River at Nunavut Parks](https://web.archive.org/web/20060511072046/http://www.nunavutparks.com/on_the_land/kazan_river_about.cfm)

- [University of New Hampshire/Global Runoff Data Centre](http://www.grdc.sr.unh.edu/html/Polygons/P4214090.html)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kazan River](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazan_River) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazan_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.