Liard River
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The Liard River flows through the Yukon Territory, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, Canada. Rising in the Pelly Mountains in south-eastern Yukon, it flows 1,115 km (693 miles) southeast through British Columbia, marking the northern end of the Rocky Mountains and then curving northeast back into the Yukon and Northwest Territories, draining into the Mackenzie River at Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories. The river drains approximately 277,100 square kilometres of boreal forest and muskeg.
The area around the river in the Yukon Territory is called the Liard River Valley, and the Alaska Highway follows the river for part of its route.
History of Exploration
The origin of the river's name is obscure, but is derived from the French word for "poplar", which grow in abundance along sections of the river. Among the early fur traders, the Liard above the Fort Nelson River was referred to as the "West Branch," while the Fort Nelson River was the "East Branch."The first European to traverse most of the river was John McLeod of the Hudson's Bay Company. Leaving Fort Simpson on June 28, 1831, McLeod and eight others ascended the river, reaching and naming the Dease River in just over six weeks. Four days later, they reached the Frances River, and mistankenly ascended it, thinking it was the main branch. Nine years later, another "Bay man" - Robert Campbell - journeyed to the source of the Liard in the St. Cyr Range of the Pelly Mountains, re-naming the river McLeod had ascended for the wife of the Company's governor, Sir George Simpson, who had authorised both expeditions.
Features of the River
- The Grand Canyon of the Liard is a spectacular 30 km stretch of the river beginning just east of the Liard River Hotsprings. It contains numerous class IV and higher rapids.
- Liard River Hotsprings is a popular tourist attraction located at kilometre 765 of the Alaska Highway.
- The historic Liard River Suspension Bridge, built in 1944, is located at kilometre 798 of the Alaska Highway.
Major Tributaries
From mouth to headwater, the major tributaries of the Liard are:- South Nahanni River
- Muskeg River
- Petitot River
- Kotaneelee River
- Fort Nelson River
- Kechika River
- Dease River
- Frances River
Communities Along the Liard
From mouth to headwater, communities along the river include:- Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories
- Fort Liard, Northwest Territories
- Liard River, British Columbia
- Lower Post, British Columbia
- Watson Lake, Yukon
- Upper Liard, Yukon
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