The South Nahanni River is a major tributary of the Liard River , located roughly 500 km (310 mi) west of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories of Canada. It is the centerpiece of Nahanni National Park Reserve . It flows from the Mackenzie Mountains in the west, through the Selwyn Mountains , growing as it heads east over the majestic Virginia Falls , and finally empties into the Liard River. The Nahanni has a unique geological history. It was formed when the area was a broad flat plain, forming a winding course typical of flatland rivers. As the mountains lifted, the river cut four deep canyons into the rock, maintaining its eccentric course.
33-481: The Dene and their ancestors have lived and hunted in the Nahanni area for thousands of years. In the early 19th century, the first Europeans came to the area, seeking fur and gold; however, it wasn't until the 1950s, with the publishing of Dangerous River by Raymond M. Patterson that the legends about the region were put to rest and the river finally came to prominence. Since that time, the Nahanni has become one of
66-481: A general stratigraphic sequence of organic muds, glacial clays, silty clays, and sands based on time of formation. Over time the glacial lake sediments are subjected to change. As seen in the English Lake District , the layers of the sediments at the bottom of the lakes contain evidence of the rate of erosion. The elemental make up of the sediments are not associated with the lakes themselves, but by
99-514: A glacier severed the spur, and the river took its present course, cutting into the land and forming the Fourth Canyon. During the last glaciation, the valley was immersed by Glacial Lake Nahanni, and heavy silting from the glacial water filled in the course once again, shifting the falls to their present location. Further downstream, the First, Second, and Third Canyons were also unaffected by
132-603: A large population of algae, making the water appear green. Glacial lake sediments also archive changes in geochemistry and pollen records as a result of climate change and human activities. During the transition from the Last Glacial Period to the Holocene climatic optimum , soil development was enhanced, whereas early human activities such as deforestation have resulted in elevated soil erosion. These events can be reflected in geochemistry and isotope signatures in
165-550: A long period of time have a more diverse ecosystem of fauna originating form neighboring tributaries or other glacial refugia. For example, many native species of the great lakes basin entered via the Mississippi basin refugia within the past 14,000 years. Glacial lakes act as fresh water storage for the replenishing of a region's water supply and serve as potential electricity producers from hydropower. Glacial lakes' aesthetic nature can also stimulate economic activity through
198-473: A shallow lagoon. In the case of Iceland's Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon located on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, tides bring in an array of fish species to the edge of the glacier. These fish attract an abundance of predators from birds to marine mammals, that are searching for food. These predators include fauna such as, seals, arctic terns and arctic skua . Glacial lakes that have been formed for
231-695: A shift from frozen to liquid water, increasing the extent and volume of glacial lakes around the world. Most glacial lakes present today can be found in Asia, Europe, and North America. The area which will see the greatest increase in lake formation is the Southern Tibetan Plateau region from debris covered glaciers. This increase in glacial lake formation also indicates an increase in occurrence of glacial lake outburst flood events caused by damming and subsequent breaking of moraine and ice. The amount of sediment found in glacial lakes varies, and has
264-629: A wide region. They live in the Mackenzie Valley (south of the Inuvialuit ), and can be found west of Nunavut . Their homeland reaches to western Yukon , and the northern part of British Columbia , Alberta , Saskatchewan , Manitoba , Alaska and the southwestern United States. Dene were the first people to settle in what is now the Northwest Territories . In northern Canada, historically there were ethnic feuds between
297-449: Is spoken by 89% of the residents. Glacial lake A glacial lake is a body of water with origins from glacier activity. They are formed when a glacier erodes the land and then melts, filling the depression created by the glacier. Near the end of the last glacial period , roughly 10,000 years ago, glaciers began to retreat. A retreating glacier often left behind large deposits of ice in hollows between drumlins or hills . As
330-502: Is unique amongst mountainous rivers. It formed long before the mountains ever existed, establishing a winding course typical of prairie rivers. As the mountains rose around it, the Nahanni maintained its course, cutting steep canyons into the land. The river runs through several distinct ranges of mountains, all part of the Mackenzie Range . At its head waters, it runs through the much more rugged Selwyn Mountains , formed from
363-1105: The Moose Ponds . It flows through the Selwyn Mountains, where it receives the waters of the Little Nahanni River , south of the Sapper Range. East of the Bologna Ridge it turns west, then again south-east. It receives the waters of the Broken Skull River east of the Vampire Peaks Range, then the waters of the Rabittkettle River and Hole in the Wall Creek as it enters the Nahanni National Park Reserve . The river crosses
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#1732772653796396-561: The last glaciation two ice sheets advanced along the Nahanni. The Cordilleran advanced from the west, and the Laurentide from the east. The middle portions of the river managed to escape glaciation entirely, and so feature some of the oldest undisturbed landscape in Canada. Although it escaped the powerful scouring effects of the glaciers, the middle section of the river was not entirely unaffected. The Laurentide Ice Sheet blocked off
429-551: The Dene People decided to join the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) seeking recognition for their ancestral cultural and land rights. The largest population of Chipewyan language (Dënesųłinë́ or Dëne) speakers live in the northern Saskatchewan village of La Loche and the adjoining Clearwater River Dene Nation . In 2011 the combined population was 3389 people. The Dënesųłinë́ language
462-548: The Dene and the Inuit . In 1996, Dene and Inuit representatives participated in a healing ceremony at Bloody Falls to reconcile the centuries-old grievances. Behchokǫ̀ , Northwest Territories is the largest Dene community in Canada. The Dene include six main groups: Although the above-named groups are what the term "Dene" usually refers to in modern usage, other groups who consider themselves Dene include: In 2005, elders from
495-669: The Nahanni as the Verendrye and his sons linked his name to the Rocky Mountains." Following his visit Trudeau declared the Nahanni a National Park for Canada. In 1978, the park became the first UNESCO World Heritage Site . The South Nahanni River was inscribed in the Canadian Heritage Rivers System in January 1987, for its natural and human heritage. The following airports are located on
528-402: The Nahanni source 500 km (310 mi) north of Yellowknife , during a snow storm. Making him the first one to explore the river and coming back alive where 41 persons died trying this feat before him. Followed by his teammate Bertrand Bordet, Jean Poirel imagined the idea of going down the river with inflatable dinghies, opening the path to a new rafting sport. During 5 expeditions, he was
561-541: The South Nahanni River receives waters from the following tributaries: Download coordinates as: The history of the area began 550 million years ago beneath a tropical sea. Here a sedimentary layer of sandstone and limestone formed from the powerful pressure exerted by the sea. Eventually this sea dried up, forming a wide plain upon which the Nahanni River first took its course. The Nahanni
594-589: The South Nahanni River: Virginia Falls Water Aerodrome , Nahanni Butte Airport and the former Nahanni Butte Water Aerodrome . Dene The Dene people ( / ˈ d ɛ n eɪ / ) are an Indigenous group of First Nations who inhabit the northern boreal , subarctic and Arctic regions of Canada. The Dene speak Northern Athabaskan languages and it is the common Athabaskan word for "people". The term "Dene" has two uses: Dene are spread through
627-573: The South Nahanni from the Yukon by ascending the Ross River then crossing the divide to a source of the Nahanni and descended the river searching for the lost claim. One mysteriously died and was only found by his partner years later. During the following decades several more prospectors and trappers disappeared or were found dead along the Nahanni and its tributaries, starting rumors and giving
660-485: The colliding North American and Pacific Plates roughly 200 million years ago. As the river travels east, it transitions into a gentler terrain of rolling sedimentary mountains formed around the same time by batholiths pushing the sedimentary layers upward, and forming large granite intrusions. Finally, the Nahanni River empties into the plains of the Liard River, unaffected by the powerful forces nearby. During
693-436: The direct power of glaciation. The canyons of the Nahanni River are somewhat unusual as a result. Usually when a river erodes the land, forming a valley, the valley takes the form of a V shape. The effect of glaciers on these V-shaped valleys is unmistakable, leaving a steeper U-shaped valley. Because the Nahanni's course was already established before the mountains rose, it formed steep canyon wall that plummet hundreds of feet to
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#1732772653796726-839: The entire length of the park reserve, and the confluence with the Flat River is also located here. At the eastern limit of the national park it passes between the Liard Range and the Twisted Mountain, where it receives the Jackfish River , then continues in a meandered flow and empties into the Liard River at Nahanni Butte , 90 km (56 mi) north of Fort Liard , at an elevation of 180 m (590 ft). The South Nahanni River has been proven to run 563 km (350 mi). From headwaters to mouth,
759-595: The first recorded European to see and map 250 caves, one of them (named after his daughter) the "Valerie Cave" which contains Dall sheep dating back 2,500 years. In 1972, during his last expedition, Jean Poirel guided Pierre Trudeau , Prime Minister of Canada, who came in person to evaluate this mysterious and fascinating region. Pierre Trudeau discerned the award of The Explorers to Jean Poirel, declaring: "It required an uncommon determination to venture there and bring to our knowledge this still untouched portion of Canadian territory. In doing so, Jean Poirel linked his name to
792-609: The ice age ended, these melted to create lakes. This is apparent in the Lake District in Northwestern England where post-glacial sediments are normally between 4 and 6 metres deep. These lakes are often surrounded by drumlins , along with other evidence of the glacier such as moraines , eskers and erosional features such as striations and chatter marks . These lakes are clearly visible in aerial photos of landforms in regions that were glaciated during
825-410: The lake sediments. Biodiversity and productivity tend to be lower in glacial lakes as only cold-tolerant and cold-adapted species can withstand their harsh conditions. Glacial rock flour and low nutrient levels create an oligotrophic environment where few species of plankton, fish and benthic organisms reside. Before becoming a lake the first stages of glacial recession melt enough freshwater to form
858-500: The last ice age . The formation and characteristics of glacial lakes vary between location and can be classified into glacial erosion lake, ice-blocked lake, moraine-dammed lake, other glacial lake, supraglacial lake, and subglacial lake. Since the glaciation of the Little Ice Age , Earth has lost more than 50% of its glaciers. This along with the current increase in retreating glaciers caused by climate change has created
891-484: The migration of the elements within the soil, such as iron and manganese. The distribution of these elements, within the lake bed, are attributed to the condition of the drainage basin and the chemical composition of the water. Sediment deposition can also be influenced by animal activity; including the distribution of biochemical elements, which are elements that are found in organic organisms, such as phosphorus and sulfur. The amount of halogens and boron found in
924-507: The mouth of the river, and so the river valley filled up, twice forming the large glacial lake Nahanni, and once forming the smaller Glacial Lake Tetcella . This had a profound effect on the river's most famous feature, Virginia Falls . The current course of the Nahanni River around Virginia Falls was originally blocked by a spur of the nearby Sunblood Mountain . Sometime during the Illinoian Stage (352,000 to 132,000 years ago),
957-617: The prime wilderness rivers in Canada, frequented as a whitewater destination by adventure seekers around the world. The South Nahanni River originates on the western slopes of Mount Christie of the Mackenzie Mountains, at an elevation of 1,600 metres (5,200 ft). It flows south on the Yukon – Northwest Territories border for 10 kilometres (6 mi), then turns south-east into the Northwest Territories at
990-512: The river a reputation of being extremely dangerous. This also gave rise to several of the names along the river including Deadman Valley and Headless Valley. The arrival of floatplanes in the mid 20th century greatly increased access to the river, and allowed it to be visited without extended back country journeys. This, and the publishing of Raymond M. Patterson 's Dangerous River , made the South Nahanni an outdoor destination. In 1964, parachutist explorer, Jean Poirel from Montreal , jumped at
1023-461: The river's edge. Relatively untouched by glaciation, these canyons continue in their ancient state. The South Nahanni River was inhabited by Dene people at the time of first European contact. In early 1823, Alexander Roderick McLeod of the Hudson's Bay Company explored the lower river. The Company quickly lost interest when they realized that the river did not support a large native population and
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1056-422: The sediments accompanies a change in erosional activity. The rate of deposition reflects the amount of halogen and boron in the deposited sediments. The scouring action of the glaciers pulverizes minerals in the rock over which the glacier passes. These pulverized minerals become sediment at the bottom of the lake, and some of the rock flour becomes suspended in the water column. These suspended minerals support
1089-579: Was not a viable route to the west. The nearest Hudson Bay fort was established at Fort Liard , and later many natives from the Nahanni settled nearby. With the Cassiar gold rush in the 1870s, prospectors came into the area for the first time. Famously, the MacLeod brothers were found dead along the Nahanni in 1906 after reportedly staking a rich claim along the Flat River. Later two prospectors reached
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