The Mackenzie River Basin

GENERAL STATEMENT

The basin of Mackenzie river and its tributaries has received considerable
attention in recent years. It is a section of country through which settlement is
gradually extending northward, and through which agricultural development will
probably be limited in its northward movement by climatic conditions only. As set-
tlement progresses transportation lines are opened up, and increased interest is
taken in all the economic resources of the region. Information about this region is
very limited, as the explorations that have been carried on since Alexander Mac-
kenzie descended in 1789 the great river that bears his name, have been confined -
almost wholly to the principal water routes. It is the purpose of this compilation
to present a concise statement of the present knowledge of its economic possibilities,
particular attention being given to the geological features and possible mineral
resources. To this compilation Charles Camsell, one of the writers, contributes
much information acquired by long residence in and wide exploration through-
out, the Mackenzie River basin. a

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LOCATION AND AREA

The basin, of Mackenzie river occupies the northwestern part of the continent
of North America and includes within its area the northern parts of the provinces
of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan, the western part of the North-
west Territories, and parts of southeastern and northeastern Yukon. It crosses
16 degrees of latitude between the 58rd and the 69th parallels, and 36 degrees
of longitude between the 104th and the 140th meridians. . .

The greater part of the basin lies in what is known as the Great Plains of
North America, but a considerable portion is also included within the Laurentian
Plateau region on the east and about an equal area within the Cordilleran region
on the west.

The total area of the Mackenzie basin is about 682,000 square miles or some-
what more than one-fifth of the area of Canada exclusive of the islands in the
Arctic ocean. Water, as lakes, covers a very large part of this area, and although
many large lakes of the region are still unexplored and unmapped it is estimated
that the water area cannot be less than about 40,000 square miles.

The total length of the river from the headwaters of Finlay river to the
Arctic ocean has not yet been accurately measured, but it is estimated to be 2,525
miles. :

The Mackenzie River system ranks as one of the eight great river systems
of the earth. On the North American continent it is exceeded in length and
drainage area only by the Mississippi river. It has a slightly greater length and
larger area than the St. Lawrence.