Hudson Bay is often considered part of the
Arctic Ocean. For example, the
International Hydrographic Organization (in its current unapproved working edition only[5] of Limits of Oceans and Seas) defines the Hudson Bay, with its outlet extending from 62.5 to 66.5 degrees north (just a few miles south of the
Arctic Circle) as being part of the Arctic Ocean, specifically "Arctic Ocean Subdivision 9.11". Other authorities include it with the
Atlantic Ocean, in part because of its greater water budget connection.[6][7]
Rivers
The largest river system within the Hudson Bay drainage basin is the
Nelson River. While the Nelson runs a relatively short 644 kilometres (400 mi) from
Lake Winnipeg to the Hudson Bay, its tributaries extent as far west as the
Rocky Mountains. From the Hudson Bay to Nelson River's farthest tributary, the
Bow River, it has a length of 2,575 kilometres (1,600 mi) and a drainage basin of 1,072,300 square kilometres (414,000 sq mi).[8] Some significant rivers include the
Saskatchewan (550 km (340 mi)),
North Saskatchewan (1,287 km (800 mi)),
South Saskatchewan (1,392 km (865 mi)),[9]Red (880 km (550 mi)),[10]Assiniboine (1,070 km (660 mi)),[11] and the
Red Deer (740 km (460 mi)).[12]
The following list of rivers includes the principal rivers draining into the Hudson,
James, and
Ungava Bays of the Hudson Bay drainage basin. The rivers are presented by coastline, clockwise, starting with the George River in north-eastern Quebec, just south of
Cape Chidley and the entrance to the
Atlantic Ocean.[13]
^"South Knife River". Canadian Geographical Names Database. Government of Canada. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^"North Knife River". Canadian Geographical Names Database. Government of Canada. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^"Caribou River". Canadian Geographical Names Database. Government of Canada. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^"Geillini River". Canadian Geographical Names Database. Government of Canada. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^"Tha-anne River". Canadian Geographical Names Database. Government of Canada. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^"Wilson River". Canadian Geographical Names Database. Government of Canada. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^"Lorillard River". Canadian Geographical Names Database. Government of Canada. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^"Brown River". Canadian Geographical Names Database. Government of Canada. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
^"Kirchoffer River". Canadian Geographical Names Database. Government of Canada. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
Stephen J. Déry et al., Characteristics and Trends of River Discharge into Hudson, James and Ungava Bays, 1964-2000, Journal of Climate, 18 (2005), pages 2540-2557