Great Bear River

Great Bear River (Sahtúdé)
Great Bear River exits Great Bear Lake near Deline
Country	Canada
Source
- location	Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada
- elevation	186 m (610 ft)
- coordinates	65°08′03″N 123°30′45″W / 65.13417°N 123.51250°W / 65.13417; -123.51250
Mouth	Mackenzie River
- location	Tulita, Northwest Territories, Canada
- elevation	60 m (197 ft)
- coordinates	64°54′21″N 125°36′12″W / 64.90583°N 125.60333°W / 64.90583; -125.60333Coordinates: 64°54′21″N 125°36′12″W / 64.90583°N 125.60333°W / 64.90583; -125.60333
Length	113 km (70 mi)
Basin	156,500 km2 (60,425 sq mi)
Discharge	for Mackenzie River
- average	528 m3/s (18,646 cu ft/s)
- max	995 m3/s (35,138 cu ft/s)

The 113-kilometre (70 mi) long Great Bear River, which drains the Great Bear Lake westward through marshes into the Mackenzie River, forms an important transportation link during its four ice-free months. It originates at south-west bay of the lake. The river has irregular meander pattern 350-metre (1,150 ft) wide channel with average depth 6 metres (20 ft). Historic air photos show no evidence of bank erosion or channel migration in a 50-year period.

The low discharge rate is due to small amount of precipitation in watershed area. Great Bear River contained open reaches that had melted out in place over 80 percent of its length in 1972 and 1974.

The settlement of Tulita is located at the mouth of the river.

The tributaries of the Great Bear River include;