Burnside River

{{Infobox river

| name = Burnside River

| image =

| image_caption =

| pushpin_map = Canada Nunavut

| pushpin_map_size =

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = Canada

| subdivision_type2 = Territory

| subdivision_name2 = Nunavut

| source1 = Contwoyto Lake

| source1_coordinates= {{coord|66|2|36|N|111|14|33|W|type:waterbody_region:CA-NU|name=Contwoyto Lake (Burnside River)}}

| source1_elevation = {{Cvt|444|m}}

| mouth = Bathurst Inlet

| mouth_location = Bathurst Inlet, Nunavut

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|66|51|N|108|04|W|type:waterbody_region:CA-NU|display=title,inline|name=Burnside River}}

| mouth_elevation = {{Cvt|0|m}}

| length =

| basin_size = {{cvt|16800|km2}}

| discharge1_min = {{convert|46.8|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}

| discharge1_avg = {{convert|135|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}

| discharge1_max = {{convert|313|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}

}}

The Burnside River is a river in the Canadian territory of Nunavut. It has its headwaters at Contwoyto Lake, flows across the Precambrian Shield's Contwoyto Plateau, flows through isolated and rugged tundra, into Lake Kathawachaga, and through the Wilberforce Hills region. Before emptying into Bathurst Inlet on the Arctic Ocean, the Mara River empties into the Burnside River.{{cite web |url=http://www.anglerweb.com/anglerWeb/fishingspots/spotdetails.aspx?LocationID=12101 |title=Mara River |publisher=anglerweb.com |accessdate=2008-01-24}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}} The river has an island, Nadlak, historically notable for Inuit use of caribou antlers as hut roof infrastructures.

The river is surrounded by continuous permafrost. It is migratory crossing path of Bathurst barren-ground caribou. Wildlife includes Arctic wolf, grizzly bears and muskox, while birds include golden eagle, rough-legged hawk and gyrfalcon. Arctic char, Arctic grayling, lake trout, and whitefish are also found in the river. Plants along the shoreline include dwarf willow and alder, plus 125 different wild flowers.{{cite web |url=http://www.nahanni.com/tripsearch/?river=Burnside+River |title=The Burnside River in Nunavut |publisher=nahanni.com |accessdate=2008-01-24}}

Copper Inuit artifacts and gravestones are located in the Burnside River area, along with trade items (needles, tools) they received from Dene. The area was explored in 1821 and 1822 by Sir John Franklin. From 1930 to 1964, a Hudson's Bay Company trading post operated at the river's mouth where the community of Bathurst Inlet formed.{{cite web |title=Hudson's Bay Company: Bathurst Inlet |url=https://pam.minisisinc.com/scripts/mwimain.dll/144/PAM_AUTHORITY/AUTH_DESC_DET_REP/SISN%202076?sessionsearch |website=pam.minisisinc.com |publisher=Archives of Manitoba - Keystone Archives Descriptive Database |access-date=2025-01-28}} Present day, it is a popular wilderness whitewater canoe route, offering long stretches of continuous whitewater, as well as several more challenging sets of rapids.

Over the period 1976 to 2022, the Burnside River has a mean flow of {{convert|135|m3/s|cuft/s}}. Mean minimal flow is {{convert|48.6|m3/s|cuft/s}} and mean maximum flow is {{convert|313|m3/s|cuft/s}}. Record maximum flow was {{convert|995|m3/s|cuft/s}} in June 2001, while record minimum flow was {{convert|0|m3/s|cuft/s}} in April 1983.{{cite web |title=Monthly Discharge Data for BURNSIDE RIVER NEAR THE MOUTH (10QC001) [NU] |url=https://wateroffice.ec.gc.ca/report/historical_e.html?stn=10QC001&dataType=Monthly¶meterType=Flow&first_year=1976&last_year=2022&mode=Table&page=historical&year=2022&start_year=1850&end_year=2025 |website=wateroffice.ec.gc.ca |publisher=Environment Canada |access-date=29 January 2025}}