Hay River, Northwest Territories

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Hay River on Great Slave Lake

Hay River connection to the Arctic Ocean

Hay River is a town in the Northwest Territories, Canada, located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, at the mouth of the Hay River. The town is separated into two sections, a new town 60°48′45″N, 115°47′20″W and an old town 60°51′13″N, 115°44′19″W with the airport between them.

Hay River is the northernmost point in Canada and all of North America which is connected to the continental railway system through the Mackenzie Northern Railway which interchanges with Canadian National Railway in Edmonton. The Alaska Railroad is located farther north but is orphaned from the network. It is in the South Slave Region.

Hay River has a population of 3,510, and the nearby Hay River Reserve another 269, according to the 2001 Census.^[1] It is referred to as the Hub of the North since the town is capable of sending goods by land, air and water.

Originally the end of the Mackenzie Highway, the relatively short Highway 2 links the town with this important northern highway. Airport and railway also serve the town, and it is the trans-shipment location for river barges downstream to the Mackenzie Delta.

The First permanent settlement in the area of Hay River was established in what is now the Katl'odeeche Reserve. This was sometime between 1892-93. This first settlement was established by Chief Chiatlo and a group of people by the building of log cabins and bringing dairy cows.

Hay River is also the home of National Hockey League forward Geoff Sanderson.