Hay River (Canada)

The Hay River (South Slavey: Kátå’odehche) is a large river in northern Alberta and southern Northwest Territories, Canada.

It originates in the muskeg of north western Alberta, flows west to British Columbia, then curves northward and returns to Alberta, where it follows a north-northeast course towards the Northwest Territories. After passing over two main waterfalls, the Alexandra Falls and Louise Falls, it flows through the town of Hay River and discharges into the Great Slave Lake. From there, its waters are carried to the Arctic Ocean by the Mackenzie River.

Hay River has a total length of 702 km and a drainage area of 48200 km2.

Tributaries of the Hay River are the Chinchaga River, Meander River (in South Slavey: Tahchee), Steen River, Melvin River and Little Hay River. The Hay River effectively flows through the Hay-Zama Lakes. Rainbow Lake is a widening of the river itself.

Communities in the Hay River basin include Rainbow Lake, Zama City, Steen River, Indian Cabins (in South Slavey: Dzêtú) in Alberta and Enterprise and the homonymous Hay River in the Northwest Territories. There are two first nations communities in the river basin: Chateh and Meander River.

At the Alberta – Northwest Territories border, the annual discharge is 3630000 dam3.

Tributaries

 * Alberta
 * Rainbow Lake
 * British Columbia
 * Little Buffalo River
 * Bivouac Creek
 * Kotcho River
 * Alberta
 * Shekilie River
 * White Spruce Creek
 * Sahcho Creek
 * Townsoitoi Creek
 * Little Hay River
 * Fire Creek
 * Zama Lake
 * Sousa Creek
 * Moody Creek
 * Zama River
 * Omega River
 * Amber River
 * Mega River
 * Vardie River
 * Adair Creek
 * Chinchaga River
 * Negus Creek
 * Henderson Creek
 * Meander River
 * Adair Creek
 * Melvin River
 * Slavey Creek
 * Roe River
 * Lutose Creek
 * Little Rapids Creek
 * Steen River
 * Dizzy Creek
 * James Creek
 * Lessard Creek
 * Jackpot Creek
 * Northwest Territories
 * Swan Lake
 * Goose Egg Lakes
 * Swede Creek
 * Twin Falls Creek