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Which major lakes are part of the Mackenzie River system?
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The Mackenzie River system includes several major lakes that are integral to its vast drainage basin in northwestern North America. These include:1
- Great Bear Lake: Located in the Northwest Territories, it covers approximately 12,100 square miles.1
- Great Slave Lake: Also situated in the Northwest Territories, this huge lake spans about 11,030 square miles and serves as the conventional starting point for the Mackenzie River itself.1
- Lake Athabasca: Positioned between Alberta and Saskatchewan, it covers roughly 3,060 square miles.1
- Williston Lake: Formed by the impounded waters of the Peace River, this lake is part of the system's headwaters west of the Rocky Mountains.1