description Churchill River Overview
The Churchill River is a major river system in central and northern Canada. It begins at Churchill Lake in northwestern Saskatchewan and runs about 1,610 kilometers through Saskatchewan and Manitoba before reaching Hudson Bay through the Nelson River system. Its lakes, rapids, and portages formed an important transportation corridor for Indigenous peoples and later for the Canadian fur trade, including routes used by the Hudson's Bay Company.
help Churchill River FAQ
Which Churchill River is described by this catalog entry?
This entry describes the Churchill River that runs through Saskatchewan and Manitoba, not the separate Churchill River in Labrador. The Saskatchewan-Manitoba river is about 1,610 kilometers long and drains east toward Hudson Bay.
Where does the Saskatchewan Churchill River begin?
Its named course begins at Churchill Lake in northwestern Saskatchewan, although the wider basin has headwaters farther west. The river is made up of many connected lakes, rapids, and channels.
How does the Churchill River connect to the Nelson River system?
The Churchill River Diversion, operating since the 1970s, sends much of the river's flow through the Rat and Burntwood rivers into the Nelson basin. The Manitoba project increases flow for hydroelectric stations on the lower Nelson River.
Where does the Churchill River reach Hudson Bay?
The remaining natural flow continues through northern Manitoba and reaches Hudson Bay near the town of Churchill. The river is therefore part of Canada's Hudson Bay drainage system rather than the Atlantic drainage of Labrador.
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