Rivers of Canada

Rivers of canada are 69 streams of at least 500 kilo meter. In the case of some rivers such as the Columbia, the length listed in the table below is solely that of the main stem. In the case of others such as the Mackenzie, it is the combined lengths of the main stem and one or more upstream tributaries, as noted. Excluded from the list are rivers such as the Dauphin, a short connecting link between lakes Manitoba and Winnipeg, with main stems of 100 km (50-60 kilo meter) or less. Also excluded are rivers such as the Mississippi, the main stems of which do not enter Canada even though some of their tributaries do.
Nine rivers in this list cross international boundaries or form them. Four - the Yukon, Columbia, Porcupine, and Kootenay-begin in Canada and flow into the United States. Five - the Milk, Pend d`Oreille, Saint Lawrence, Red, and Saint John-begin in the United States and flow into Canada. Of these, the milk and the Kootenay cross the internationl border twice, the Milk leaving and then re-entering the United States, the Kootenay leaving and then re-entering Canada.

The drainge basins of these nine rivers extend into both countries; in addition, the drainage basins of six others - the Fraser, Assiniboine, South Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, Nelson,
and Winnipeg- extend into the United States even though their main stems flow entirely within Canada.
Sources report hydrological quantities with varied precision.