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Keele River

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339:(62 mi) from the Keele's source, the Natla River rushes into the Keele from the south and almost doubles the flow and size of the river. From the Natla Confluence, The Keele turns and snakes its way northward for 85 kilometres (53 mi) until it meets the Twitya River, its largest tributary, flowing in from the west. Just after the Twitya confluence, the Keele is deflected east around the Tigonankweine Range by the towering Mount Eduni Massif and continues in this direction until reaching the Mackenzie River. During this section, the Toochingkla River flows in from the south, before the Keele cuts between the spectacular Canyon and Redstone Ranges. It then leaves the mountains behind, becoming slow and braided, and receives Middle Creek from the south, merging into the Mackenzie some 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) downstream from the 404:. Swift currents, rapids and aquamarine glacial water in a wilderness setting hundreds of kilometres from the nearest road mean that this river offers a thrill to all who paddle it. The Keele is suitable for beginner canoeists when paired with a guided expedition, and intermediate paddlers who wish to challenge it themselves. Several outfitting and guiding companies offer guided tours down the Natla/Keele river system during all months of the summer, as well as outfitting services. Trips usually depart 31: 417:
with the Natla is also a class 2-3 navigable waterway, but suffers from accessibility issues, as there are no lakes for a float plane to land on at the headwaters of the river. Paddlers looking to go down this section usually access the Keele through the class 3-4 Tischu River after landing on an air strip at Mile 222 of the Canol Road.
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people. After spending the summer hunting and trading along the Yukon/NWT border the Mountain Dene, or shúhtagot'ıne, would build large moose skin boats, fill them with furs and goods and paddle down the Keele River to their winter camps along the Mackenzie River Valley. There they would trade these
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area known as the Mackenzie Mountain Barrens, joining the Tsichu and Intga Rivers along the way. It then drops off the alpine plateau and begins its long descent to the Mackenzie River, tumbling gradually down into the dramatic Backbone Ranges of the Mackenzie Mountains. Approximately 100 kilometres
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and land on the river at the Natla-Keele confluence. Trip length is usually between 10 and 14 days; however, it is feasible to have a longer trip by pairing the Keele with the Natla river. (Natla is a class 3+ river, and therefore is an experts-only trip). The upper Keele River above the confluence
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People have inhabited the mountainous area surrounding the Keele River for at least 11,000 years. The Dene name for the Keele River is Begádeé, which translates to "Winding River". The river was used extensively as a trade route for some tribes of the Mountain
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furs and goods for supplies to survive the long winter months with the Lowland Dene People and the Hudson Bay trading post after it was built at Fort Norman in the 1800s. Come spring, they would return to the mountains once again on foot. After signing
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in 1921, the Dene no longer went to the Yukon Border area as frequently and as a result the Keele was also less travelled. The Keele also has been known as the
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Sekwi Brook, Natla River, Dorkan Creek, Nidhe Brook, Naintin Brook, Toochingkla River, Moose Nest Creek, Red Dog Creek, Middle Creek
595: 397: 909: 819: 904: 884: 809: 899: 854: 758: 330:, approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of Macmillan Pass, which is the terminus of the drivable section of the 59: 894: 804: 673: 551: 365:(regarding the transfer of lands in the Yukon to the federal government for purposes of oil exploration) with 429:
describes a group of pioneers wintering on the edges of the river in the winter of 1897-1898 in his novel
384:, who had surveyed the area in 1907–08, and descended the Keele River from its source to the Mackenzie. 381: 326:
The Keele River originates in a small, unnamed lake near the border of the Northwest Territories and the
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In recent years the Keele River, the less travelled cousin of the
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Tsichu River, Intga River, Ekwi River, Twitya River, Summit Creek
467:"Hydrologic Overview of the Gwich'in and Sahtu Settlement Areas" 334:. The river begins its journey by flowing northwest through the 344: 308: 52: 327: 637: 357: 550:. Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Archived from 503: 493:
using data from Canadian topo maps to find the source
343:and 50 kilometres (31 mi) south-southeast of 464: 1066: 623: 446:List of rivers of the Northwest Territories 630: 616: 529:. Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre 496: 228:115.7 m/s (4,090 cu ft/s) 248:550 m/s (19,000 cu ft/s) 1067: 593:Gazetteer of the Northwest Territories 505:Topo Maps for United States and Canada 196:19,000 km (7,300 sq mi) 18:River in Northwest Territories, Canada 611: 885:Lac des Bois (Northwest Territories) 380:, for Joseph Keele, a member of the 1075:Rivers of the Northwest Territories 238:20 m/s (710 cu ft/s) 13: 1080:Tributaries of the Mackenzie River 14: 1091: 420: 376:The river was named, as was the 29: 586: 565: 540: 519: 483: 465:Kokelj, Shawne A. (Dec 2001). 458: 137: • coordinates 1: 451: 387: 71:Physical characteristics 176: • elevation 105:1,401 m (4,596 ft) 101: • elevation 7: 439: 382:Geological Survey of Canada 214: • location 125: • location 89: • location 10: 1096: 548:"Call to the Shuhtaot'ine" 350: 244: • maximum 234: • minimum 224: • average 976: 780: 649: 321: 287: 277: 269: 261: 256: 252: 242: 232: 222: 212: 204: 200: 192: 188:410 km (250 mi) 184: 174: 135: 123: 113: 109: 99: 87: 79: 75: 70: 58: 48: 43: 28: 23: 994:Dolphin and Union Strait 289: • right 180:121 m (397 ft) 1044:Richard Collinson Inlet 279: • left 1039:Prince of Wales Strait 303:is a tributary of the 643:Northwest Territories 312:Northwest Territories 65:Northwest Territories 1049:Prince Albert Sound 489:Length measured in 398:class 2+ whitewater 394:South Nahanni River 316:Mackenzie Mountains 265:Southwest-northeast 257:Basin features 155: /  999:Fitzwilliam Strait 598:2013-09-27 at the 218:Above Twitya River 159:64.417°N 124.800°W 38:above Summit Creek 1062: 1061: 427:James A. Michener 297: 296: 1087: 977:Coastal features 632: 625: 618: 609: 608: 602: 590: 584: 583: 581: 580: 569: 563: 562: 560: 559: 544: 538: 537: 535: 534: 527:"1921 Treaty 11" 523: 517: 516: 514: 513: 500: 494: 487: 481: 480: 478: 477: 471: 462: 332:North CANOL Road 290: 280: 245: 235: 225: 215: 170: 169: 167: 166: 165: 164:64.417; -124.800 160: 156: 153: 152: 151: 148: 102: 94:Selwyn Mountains 90: 33: 21: 20: 1095: 1094: 1090: 1089: 1088: 1086: 1085: 1084: 1065: 1064: 1063: 1058: 972: 776: 645: 636: 606: 605: 600:Wayback Machine 591: 587: 578: 576: 571: 570: 566: 557: 555: 546: 545: 541: 532: 530: 525: 524: 520: 511: 509: 502: 501: 497: 488: 484: 475: 473: 469: 463: 459: 454: 442: 423: 390: 353: 324: 305:Mackenzie River 288: 278: 243: 233: 223: 213: 177: 163: 161: 157: 154: 149: 146: 144: 142: 141: 138: 130:Mackenzie River 126: 100: 88: 39: 36:Braided channel 19: 12: 11: 5: 1093: 1083: 1082: 1077: 1060: 1059: 1057: 1056: 1054:Wilkins Strait 1051: 1046: 1041: 1036: 1031: 1026: 1024:M'Clure Strait 1021: 1016: 1014:Kellett Strait 1011: 1006: 1001: 996: 991: 986: 980: 978: 974: 973: 971: 970: 962: 957: 952: 947: 942: 937: 932: 927: 922: 917: 912: 907: 902: 897: 892: 887: 882: 877: 872: 867: 862: 857: 852: 847: 842: 837: 832: 827: 822: 817: 815:Clinton-Colden 812: 807: 802: 797: 792: 786: 784: 778: 777: 775: 774: 766: 761: 756: 751: 746: 741: 736: 731: 726: 721: 716: 711: 706: 701: 696: 691: 686: 681: 676: 671: 666: 661: 655: 653: 647: 646: 635: 634: 627: 620: 612: 604: 603: 585: 564: 539: 518: 495: 482: 456: 455: 453: 450: 449: 448: 441: 438: 437: 436: 422: 419: 389: 386: 352: 349: 341:Redstone River 323: 320: 295: 294: 291: 285: 284: 281: 275: 274: 271: 267: 266: 263: 259: 258: 254: 253: 250: 249: 246: 240: 239: 236: 230: 229: 226: 220: 219: 216: 210: 209: 206: 202: 201: 198: 197: 194: 190: 189: 186: 182: 181: 178: 175: 172: 171: 139: 136: 133: 132: 127: 124: 121: 120: 117: 111: 110: 107: 106: 103: 97: 96: 91: 85: 84: 81: 77: 76: 73: 72: 68: 67: 62: 56: 55: 50: 46: 45: 41: 40: 34: 26: 25: 17: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1092: 1081: 1078: 1076: 1073: 1072: 1070: 1055: 1052: 1050: 1047: 1045: 1042: 1040: 1037: 1035: 1032: 1030: 1027: 1025: 1022: 1020: 1017: 1015: 1012: 1010: 1007: 1005: 1002: 1000: 997: 995: 992: 990: 987: 985: 984:Amundsen Gulf 982: 981: 979: 975: 969: 967: 963: 961: 958: 956: 953: 951: 948: 946: 943: 941: 938: 936: 933: 931: 928: 926: 923: 921: 918: 916: 913: 911: 908: 906: 903: 901: 898: 896: 893: 891: 890:Lac La Martre 888: 886: 883: 881: 878: 876: 873: 871: 868: 866: 863: 861: 858: 856: 853: 851: 848: 846: 843: 841: 838: 836: 833: 831: 828: 826: 823: 821: 818: 816: 813: 811: 808: 806: 803: 801: 798: 796: 793: 791: 788: 787: 785: 783: 779: 773: 771: 767: 765: 762: 760: 757: 755: 754:South Nahanni 752: 750: 747: 745: 742: 740: 737: 735: 732: 730: 727: 725: 724:North Nahanni 722: 720: 717: 715: 712: 710: 707: 705: 702: 700: 697: 695: 692: 690: 687: 685: 682: 680: 677: 675: 672: 670: 667: 665: 662: 660: 657: 656: 654: 652: 648: 644: 640: 633: 628: 626: 621: 619: 614: 613: 610: 601: 597: 594: 589: 574: 573:"Keele River" 568: 554:on 2011-06-09 553: 549: 543: 528: 522: 507: 506: 499: 492: 486: 468: 461: 457: 447: 444: 443: 434: 433: 428: 425: 424: 421:In literature 418: 415: 411: 407: 403: 399: 395: 385: 383: 379: 374: 372: 368: 367:King George V 364: 359: 348: 346: 342: 337: 336:alpine tundra 333: 329: 319: 317: 313: 310: 306: 302: 292: 286: 282: 276: 272: 268: 264: 260: 255: 251: 247: 241: 237: 231: 227: 221: 217: 211: 207: 203: 199: 195: 191: 187: 183: 179: 173: 168: 140: 134: 131: 128: 122: 118: 116: 112: 108: 104: 98: 95: 92: 86: 82: 78: 74: 69: 66: 63: 61: 57: 54: 51: 47: 42: 37: 32: 27: 22: 16: 1034:Murray Inlet 1004:Hazen Strait 989:Beaufort Sea 964: 768: 703: 588: 577:. Retrieved 567: 556:. Retrieved 552:the original 542: 531:. Retrieved 521: 510:. Retrieved 504: 498: 491:Google Earth 485: 474:. Retrieved 460: 430: 410:Fort Simpson 406:Norman Wells 391: 375: 371:Gravel River 370: 354: 325: 300: 298: 15: 1029:Minto Inlet 1019:Liddon Gulf 1009:Husky Lakes 880:Lac de Gras 845:Great Slave 764:Yellowknife 674:Fond du Lac 639:Hydrography 301:Keele River 270:Tributaries 262:Progression 162: / 24:Keele River 1069:Categories 930:Sambaa K'e 915:Napaktulik 840:Great Bear 800:Blackwater 709:Kotaneelee 699:Kagloryuak 679:Great Bear 669:Coppermine 659:Arctic Red 579:2010-05-02 558:2010-05-02 533:2010-05-02 512:2010-05-01 476:2019-05-13 452:References 414:floatplane 388:Recreation 378:Keele Peak 193:Basin size 945:Tahiryuak 875:Lac Belot 830:Firedrake 790:Artillery 719:Mackenzie 363:Treaty 11 205:Discharge 60:Territory 960:Wholdaia 955:Tulemalu 950:Tathlina 940:Snowbird 910:Mosquito 905:McArthur 820:Colville 739:Redstone 694:Hornaday 596:Archived 440:See also 402:portages 400:with no 309:Canadian 150:124°48′W 44:Location 920:Nonacho 810:Buffalo 734:Petitot 641:of the 575:. Tageo 432:Journey 351:History 147:64°25′N 49:Country 935:Selwyn 900:MacKay 870:Keller 860:Kakisa 855:Howard 850:Hottah 795:Aylmer 744:Roscoe 651:Rivers 435:(1989) 345:Tulita 322:Course 273:  208:  185:Length 119:  83:  80:Source 53:Canada 925:Point 865:Kasba 835:Frame 825:Faber 782:Lakes 759:Trout 749:Slave 714:Liard 704:Keele 470:(PDF) 328:Yukon 115:Mouth 966:more 895:Lynx 805:Boyd 770:more 729:Peel 689:Horn 664:Back 358:Dene 299:The 968:... 772:... 684:Hay 412:by 408:or 1071:: 373:. 347:. 318:. 631:e 624:t 617:v 582:. 561:. 536:. 515:. 479:.

Index


Braided channel
Canada
Territory
Northwest Territories
Selwyn Mountains
Mouth
Mackenzie River
64°25′N 124°48′W / 64.417°N 124.800°W / 64.417; -124.800
Mackenzie River
Canadian
Northwest Territories
Mackenzie Mountains
Yukon
North CANOL Road
alpine tundra
Redstone River
Tulita
Dene
Treaty 11
King George V
Keele Peak
Geological Survey of Canada
South Nahanni River
class 2+ whitewater
portages
Norman Wells
Fort Simpson
floatplane
James A. Michener

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