Seal River
Encyclopedia
The Seal River is a river
in the Northern Region
of Manitoba
, Canada
. It travels 260 kilometres (161.6 mi) from Shethanei Lake to the Hudson Bay
. The river was nominated for the Canadian Heritage Rivers System
in 1987 and was officially listed in 1992.
, and it is the northernmost and only one that contains no dams. Its drainage basin
is 50000 square kilometres (19,305.1 sq mi) in area. The river is far removed from any human populations in the isolated wilderness. The nearest settlements are Churchill
and the small Tadoule Lake
. Churchill is about 45 kilometres (28 mi) south of the mouth of the river along the Hudson Bay, while Tadoule Lake is far inland near the source. There are no actual settlements or permanent human inhabitants along the Seal River. The nearest permanent road to connect Seal River to the rest of the Canadian populace is 275 kilometres (170.9 mi) southwest of the river. While the source of the Seal River is Shethanei Lake, that water comes from the North Seal River and South Seal River, which empty into the lake. Those two rivers are actually much longer and contain more water than the Seal River.
The river flows through a mix of boreal forests
at the southernmost edge of Canada's tundra
. Because it travels through this transition zone, the river travels through dense forests, as well as portions of the barren and rocky subarctic
wilderness. The course of the river is inconsistent and very dangerous to navigate
. The river has no human uses, except for the very few skilled travelers on rafts or canoes who brave the treacherous waters each year.
in 1987 because of its natural and ecological importance, not its importance to people in the development of the area. The whole course of the river is entirely undeveloped and far removed from any regular human intervention. The river is considered one of the last great wild rivers of Canada.
While the river served little use to the early European colonizers of the Hudson Bay region, the river itself served more importance for First Nations
many centuries ago. The first European to navigate the Seal River was Samuel Hearne
, who walked the route of the river in 1771. Early Europeans themselves saw no use for the river, while the only traces of their existence in the area were short-lived mining camps near the mouth of the river that date back only to the 1940s. While there are few historical remnants of European existence in the area, there are many artifacts belonging to the Chipewyan
and even earlier Talteilei
tribes. They regularly came to the river to hunt the vast amounts of caribou
. Traces of First Nation presence in the area dates back up to 7,000 years ago.
Because there are no public travel accommodations near the river, access to the river can only be provided through various far-off airports— in which Churchill Airport
and Tadoule Lake Airport
are the closest. The rest of the journey to the river must be hiked. Charter tour groups of the river and the surrounding area are rare and very expensive. Because of the extreme isolation of the river and its dangerous topography, very few adventurers travel to the river on a yearly basis. The rivers owes its preservation to the harsh wilderness, infertile soil, and very cold climate, which have made the area very inhospitable to even the most experienced travelers.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in the Northern Region
Northern Region, Manitoba
The Northern Region is a region in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It is situated on the Canadian Shield and includes Manitoba's Hudson Bay coastline. The major economic activities are mining and tourism. The region is composed of four census divisions: 19 and 21–23...
of Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It travels 260 kilometres (161.6 mi) from Shethanei Lake to the Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay , sometimes called Hudson's Bay, is a large body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area, about , that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,...
. The river was nominated for the Canadian Heritage Rivers System
Canadian Heritage Rivers System
The Canadian Heritage Rivers System was established in 1984 by the federal, provincial and territorial governments to conserve and protect the best examples of Canada's river heritage, to give them national recognition, and to encourage the public to enjoy and appreciate them. It is a cooperative...
in 1987 and was officially listed in 1992.
Geography
At a length of 260 kilometers (162 mi), the Seal River is one of the four major rivers in Northern ManitobaNorthern Region, Manitoba
The Northern Region is a region in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It is situated on the Canadian Shield and includes Manitoba's Hudson Bay coastline. The major economic activities are mining and tourism. The region is composed of four census divisions: 19 and 21–23...
, and it is the northernmost and only one that contains no dams. Its drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
is 50000 square kilometres (19,305.1 sq mi) in area. The river is far removed from any human populations in the isolated wilderness. The nearest settlements are Churchill
Churchill, Manitoba
Churchill is a town on the shore of Hudson Bay in Manitoba, Canada. It is most famous for the many polar bears that move toward the shore from inland in the autumn, leading to the nickname "Polar Bear Capital of the World" that has helped its growing tourism industry.-History:A variety of nomadic...
and the small Tadoule Lake
Tadoule Lake, Manitoba
Tadoule Lake is an isolated northern community in Manitoba reachable by plane, snowmobile, and dog team sleds. In 1973, the Sayisi Dene moved here to return to their Barren-ground Caribou hunting life....
. Churchill is about 45 kilometres (28 mi) south of the mouth of the river along the Hudson Bay, while Tadoule Lake is far inland near the source. There are no actual settlements or permanent human inhabitants along the Seal River. The nearest permanent road to connect Seal River to the rest of the Canadian populace is 275 kilometres (170.9 mi) southwest of the river. While the source of the Seal River is Shethanei Lake, that water comes from the North Seal River and South Seal River, which empty into the lake. Those two rivers are actually much longer and contain more water than the Seal River.
The river flows through a mix of boreal forests
Boreal forest of Canada
Canada's boreal forest comprises about one third of the circumpolar boreal forest that rings the northern hemisphere, mostly north of the 50th parallel. Other countries with boreal forest include Russia, which contains the majority, and the Scandinavian and Nordic countries . The boreal region in...
at the southernmost edge of Canada's tundra
Tundra
In physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes through Russian тундра from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr "uplands," "treeless mountain tract." There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine...
. Because it travels through this transition zone, the river travels through dense forests, as well as portions of the barren and rocky subarctic
Subarctic
The Subarctic is a region in the Northern Hemisphere immediately south of the true Arctic and covering much of Alaska, Canada, the north of Scandinavia, Siberia, and northern Mongolia...
wilderness. The course of the river is inconsistent and very dangerous to navigate
Navigability
A body of water, such as a river, canal or lake, is navigable if it is deep, wide and slow enough for a vessel to pass. Preferably there are few obstructions such as rocks or trees to avoid. Bridges must have sufficient clearance. High water speed may make a channel unnavigable. Waters may be...
. The river has no human uses, except for the very few skilled travelers on rafts or canoes who brave the treacherous waters each year.
History
Seal River was nominated for the Canadian Heritage Rivers SystemCanadian Heritage Rivers System
The Canadian Heritage Rivers System was established in 1984 by the federal, provincial and territorial governments to conserve and protect the best examples of Canada's river heritage, to give them national recognition, and to encourage the public to enjoy and appreciate them. It is a cooperative...
in 1987 because of its natural and ecological importance, not its importance to people in the development of the area. The whole course of the river is entirely undeveloped and far removed from any regular human intervention. The river is considered one of the last great wild rivers of Canada.
While the river served little use to the early European colonizers of the Hudson Bay region, the river itself served more importance for First Nations
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
many centuries ago. The first European to navigate the Seal River was Samuel Hearne
Samuel Hearne
Samuel Hearne was a an English explorer, fur-trader, author, and naturalist. He was the first European to make an overland excursion across northern Canada to the Arctic Ocean, actually Coronation Gulf, via the Coppermine River...
, who walked the route of the river in 1771. Early Europeans themselves saw no use for the river, while the only traces of their existence in the area were short-lived mining camps near the mouth of the river that date back only to the 1940s. While there are few historical remnants of European existence in the area, there are many artifacts belonging to the Chipewyan
Chipewyan
The Chipewyan are a Dene Aboriginal people in Canada, whose ancestors were the Taltheilei...
and even earlier Talteilei
Taltheilei Shale Tradition
The Taltheilei Shale Tradition is the archeological name of the material culture of a late prehistoric western-area subarctic people dated to the period of 750 BC to AD 1000. The Taltheilei Shale Tradition is named after the "Taltheilei Narrows" of Great Slave Lake...
tribes. They regularly came to the river to hunt the vast amounts of caribou
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
. Traces of First Nation presence in the area dates back up to 7,000 years ago.
Because there are no public travel accommodations near the river, access to the river can only be provided through various far-off airports— in which Churchill Airport
Churchill Airport
Churchill Airport is located east southeast of Churchill, Manitoba, Canada.Churchill Airport serves the town of Churchill and the surrounding region. Although it is a small domestic airport, it handles a relatively high number of passengers throughout the year as it is a major destination for...
and Tadoule Lake Airport
Tadoule Lake Airport
Tadoule Lake Airport, , is located southwest of Tadoule Lake, Manitoba, Canada....
are the closest. The rest of the journey to the river must be hiked. Charter tour groups of the river and the surrounding area are rare and very expensive. Because of the extreme isolation of the river and its dangerous topography, very few adventurers travel to the river on a yearly basis. The rivers owes its preservation to the harsh wilderness, infertile soil, and very cold climate, which have made the area very inhospitable to even the most experienced travelers.