Celebrating our coastlines from rivers to oceans

Bordered by three of the world’s five oceans, Canada boasts the longest coastline in the world.

Even if you’ve never seen our Atlantic, Pacific or Arctic oceans, your actions from kilometres away still impact these bodies of water.  Consider, for example, that while approximately 60 per cent of Canada's fresh water drains to the North, 85 per cent of the Canadian population lives along our southern, ocean-less border with the United States.

Water is fundamental to the well-being of Canadians, our economy and the environment, so we all have a critical role to play in safeguarding the health of this precious natural resource.

To celebrate Rivers to Oceans Week from June 8-14, take a glimpse into life along our coastlines and let it inspire you to take action for the health of our waters today. 

Capturing our coastlines –
A Northern Necessity

The high Arctic coastline as seen from Cape Vera on Devon Island, Nunavut. Photo: Mark Mallory © Environment Canada, 2009.
The high Arctic coastline as seen from Cape Vera on Devon Island, Nunavut. 
Photo: Mark Mallory © Environment Canada, 2009.

Our Arctic coastline is closely tied to the history, tradition and culture of Canada’s northern Aboriginal population. In the Northwest Territories, for example, many communities are located along the Mackenzie River and other major waterways.  These bodies of water are critical to the survival and livelihood of the people across the North, acting as a major source of food and drinking water, as well as a primary mode of transportation.

Did you know…

  • The rivers flowing into the Hudson Bay were key to establishing the Hudson’s Bay Company.  The company used the river as a corridor to ship goods and furs within North America en route to Europe.
  • There are more than two dozen species of seabirds, waterfowl and shorebirds that have 100 per cent of their breeding range in Nunavut or the Northwest Territories, much of it concentrated along marine coastlines.
  • Rises in sea-level and reduced ice seasons are two of the major impacts of climate warming in the North.   As a result, Northern communities face major challenges such as increased coastal erosion and threats to freshwater habitats.

Capturing our coastlines –
West Coast Wonders

The Pacific Ocean as seen from the shores of B.C.’s Stanley Park. Photo: Jacqueline Roy © Environment Canada, 2009.
The Pacific Ocean as seen from the BC coastline.
Photo: Natalie Arseneau © Environment Canada, 2009

The Pacific coastline runs along Canada’s picturesque Western border, cozying up to British Columbia and the Yukon. The three major rivers are the Fraser, the Yukon and the Columbia. These three rivers make up the largest drainage area west of the Rocky Mountains.

Did you know…

  • The Yukon River was a major transportation route during the 19th-century Gold Rush.
  • The Fraser River is the biggest salmon-producing river in the world.
  • The Columbia River is one of the world’s greatest sources of hydroelectric power.

Federal commitments for healthy waters

Under the Action Plan for Clean Water, the Government of Canada is investing $96 million in clean-up funding to restore Lake Winnipeg, Lake Simcoe and several areas of concern in the Great Lakes.

In addition, the Government of Canada has endorsed the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Canada-wide Strategy for the Management of Municipal Wastewater Effluent, which ensures that effluent --like sewage and waste--from wastewater systems does not pose risks to the environment, to human health or to fisheries resources. 

The Government of Canada also works closely with its partners in the cities, provinces and territories, as well as with Aboriginal governments, to share the responsibility for water management.

Visit our water web site to learn more about Environment Canada's role in water, water management, and environment-related water issues.

Capturing our coastlines -
East Coast Living

The Atlantic Ocean as seen from Cavendish National Park, Prince Edward Island. Photo: Jim Moyes © Environnement Canada, 2002.
The Atlantic Ocean as seen from Cavendish National Park, Prince Edward Island. 
Photo: Jim Moyes © Environment Canada, 2002.

More than 2.3 million people live in the Atlantic region, most of them in urban areas and smaller communities along the coastline. It’s no wonder then that the Maritime culture is so closely intertwined with the proximity of the Atlantic ocean.

Did you know…

  • The Atlantic region has more than 40,000 kilometres of coastline, about the same distance around the Earth’s equator.
  • About 4.8 million shorebirds migrate through the area.
  • The region’s sea level has risen approximately 30cm over the past century – the current erosion rate is about one metre per year.

Fast Facts

  • Canada boasts the longest coastline in the world
  • While approximately 60 per cent of Canada's fresh water drains to the North, 85 per cent of the Canadian population lives along our southern, ocean-less border with the United States
  • Rivers to Oceans Week takes place from June 8-14
  • Our supplies of clean and usable water are limited, and we must learn to use them more wisely if we are to continue to enjoy the benefits that water provides
  • The Government of Canada is investing $96 million under the Action Plan for Clean Water
  • The Canada-wide Strategy for the Management of Municipal Wastewater Effluent ensures that effluent from wastewater systems do not pose risks to the environment, to human health or to fisheries resources

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