Fort Nelson River

Fort Nelson River
Location
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
District	Peace River Land District
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Forks of Sikanni Chief River and Fontas River 58°17′08″N 121°45′13″W / 58.28543°N 121.75355°W / 58.28543; -121.75355 (Fort Nelson origin)
• elevation	360 m (1,180 ft)
Mouth
• location	Liard River[1] 59°32′47″N 123°59′40″W / 59.54639°N 123.99432°W / 59.54639; -123.99432 (Fort Nelson mouth)
• elevation	260 m (850 ft)
Length	517 km (321 mi)
Basin size	55,900 km2 (21,600 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	331.9 m3/s (11,720 cu ft/s)[2]

The Fort Nelson River, often shortened to simply the Nelson River, is in north-eastern British Columbia, Canada. It flows 517 kilometres (321 mi) generally north-westward to the Liard River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River, which empties into the Arctic Ocean. The river drains a watershed of 55,900 square kilometres (21,600 sq mi) and is formed by the confluence of the Fontas River flowing from the east, and the Sikanni Chief River flowing from the south. These, along with the Sahtaneh and Muskwa Rivers, constitute the major tributaries. The source of the Sikanni Chief, on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains, is ultimately the headwater of the Fort Nelson River.

The land through which the river flows is generally flat, a mixture of boreal forests and muskeg. The area is rich in wildlife, and forestry and mining (especially oil and gas) are major industries.