Anderson River (Northwest Territories)

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The Anderson River is in the Northwest Territories in northern Canada. It flows north and west in the area between the Mackenzie and Coppermine Rivers. Its mouth is on the Beaufort Sea near the eastern end of Liverpool Bay at about 70 degrees north latitude. Its headwaters are a few hundred kilometers south and east of there - in the vicinity of the hamlet of Colville Lake (although further east and south).

It is a river with wildly varied landscape. Canyons are common in the upper and middle sections of the River, the largest of which is Falcon Canyon, at 6km long and 40m (approx) deep. The upper sections of the river are in taiga, with black spruce being the dominant tree. Closer to the ocean, the river pulls above treeline, and continues through rolling tundra.

Whitewater is most intense in the middle section of the river (around Falcon Canyon and upstream). A couple of class III rapids, lots of class I and II, and no major falls make the Anderson a fun, but not overly demanding whitewater run for experienced paddlers.

Wildlife is abundant on the Anderson. The Bluenose Barren-ground Caribou herd, which calves further east near Bluenose Lake, migrates south down parts of the Anderson River valley in July. Musk ox, moose, and grizzly bears are also common along the river. On the delta of the River and on the ocean, Ringed Seals and Bearded Seals may be seen. On the ocean itself, pods of Beluga whales are not uncommon. Bird life is also abundant and varied.