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Nelson River, facts about Nelson River

Nelson River is the longest river in Manitoba, Canada. The source of the Nelson is the north end of Lake Winnipeg. From this source it flows about 400 miles to the northeast, through lakes Playgreen, Cross and Split. It empties into Hudson Bay near Port Nelson. The river is an important source of hydroelectric power for the surrounding province.

Nelson River, facts about Nelson River

An aerial view of the Grand Rapids power project on the Nelson River in Manitoba, Canada

The Nelson is part of a vast river system. The Saskatchewan River flows into the northwest end of Lake Winnipeg. Sometimes this whole system (Saskatchewan River-Lake Winnipeg-Nelson River) is called the Nelson River. The complete length of this waterway is 1,600 miles. The first European to discover the Nelson was the English navigator Sir Thomas Button, who also named the river. Button was searching for the northwest passage, a trade route over the top of North America to the East. The river later became an important means of transportation for fur traders in the area, especially for Hudson's Bay Company.

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