And there's enough of it in enough variety to keep everyone happy!

If you're traveling by road on your North of 60 trip, you'll soon notice that our highways are rarely far removed from water courses or glistening lakes. If you arrive here by air, you will have noted from the windows of your plane that water is as much a dominant feature of the scene below you as is the boreal forest.

The NWT is home to much of this planet's fresh water reserves, including the two largest lakes to lie entirely within Canada, Great Bear and Great Slave which are, respectively, the ninth and tenth largest lakes in the world. From the northwest corner of the lake Hay River people tend to call our own, the mighty Mackenzie River, the Deh Cho, begins its final thousand mile run to the Arctic Ocean.

Here on the south shore of Great Slave, two other river systems flow from the south and west: the Peace/Athabasca which becomes the Slave flows into the lake about a hundred miles east, just above Fort Resolution, and the Hay, which drains an impressive 4500 square kilometre watershed in northwestern Alberta/ northeast British Columbia. Along these river routes, many smaller rivers and innumerable creeks, lakes add their waters to the cycle, all flowing "down North" to that 'Frozen Sea' of old maps.

NWT Highway 1 is designated The Waterfall Route with good reason. Driving north from the NWT/Alberta border your first sight of falls is on the Hay at the beginning of Territorial Twin Falls Gorge Park where you can enjoy a whole day - at least - exploring Alexandra, Louise and Escarpment Falls.

The limestone fault of the area has been worn over thousands of years to produce Alexandra and Louise on the Hay itself and two smaller falls on Escarpment Creek. A groomed trail between Alexandra and Louise enhances enjoyment of this lovely area.

If your journey takes you further along Highway 1, stop at McNally falls for a view of what happens when overburden gives way forming a sinkhole - and be delighted by the swallows nesting on the cliff face.

Make sure you turn off just above the Kakisa River Bridge and go on the few kilometres to Lady Evelyn Falls (good fishing and swimming as well as an excellent campground).

Further north and west, on the Trout River, stop again at Semba Deh Campground for more falls - the Semba Deh (formerly Whittaker Falls) and Coral Falls are beautiful sights.

If you leave from Hay River for a trip southeast to Fort Smith along Highway 5, be sure to visit Little Buffalo River Falls Territorial Park where a small waterfall drops off a rocky lip and winds down a small gorge to a spot where your canoe can be launched. The park area was devastated by forest fire in 1981 and is an ideal spot to observe how nature revives and replenishes the land.

If your idea of a 'water holiday' is sitting on a sandy beach in warm sun with safe water for the kids to play in, then the beaches of the Hay River Territorial Park are made to order. Want a long stretch of shore to walk along, watch the birds, feel the wind and waves? Hay River Territorial Park is again your answer.

Brought your boat with you? Yes, you can launch at Porritt Landing marina, wind your way out into the main river, keeping a watchful eye for those NTCL tugs and barges and float planes coming in, then head upstream on the Hay, or cruise out onto Great Slave Lake. But - do be cautious. Sudden squalls can come up on this lake: the water is very deep and very cold, once out past the sandbar. You want to just slip the canoe in and drift? You can do that, too. A good day's paddle is the trip down from Paradise Gardens in Paradise Valley and end up right there on the beach where the river flows into the lake.

Fishing is your choice? Well, we've got 'em. Pickerel in both the West and East or Main Channel of the Hay; whitefish probably just out on the lake, though these are not so easily taken. Check in at Polar Lake 30 miles east on Highway 5, to see if the stocked arctic char are into biting yet.

Grayling can be taken on the Kakisa - but make sure you check on the limits on all our fish; we also practice catch-and-release in the NWT. If your heart is set on a whopping great lake trout, you'll need to check with the local air charter company about a fly-out for a day or so or with one of the fishing lodges in our area. The VIC staff will help you.

Oh, by the way - people do water ski here, sail and sail-board, too.

We've got water - and we use it! You can, too.