Ottawa River drainage basin
The Ottawa River drainage basin is the drainage basin in northern North America where surface water empties into the Ottawa River and adjoining waters. Spanning an area of about , it is the 12th largest drainage basin in Canada, occupying the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. It accounts for about 11% of the total Saint Lawrence River drainage area.
Boreal forest of Canada
The boreal forest also has vast areas of wetland, particularly bogs and fens. Two wetland areas, the Hudson Bay Lowland and the Mackenzie River basin, are among the ten largest wetlands in the world. The boreal forest wetlands provide wildlife habitat (particularly for migratory birds), they maintain water flow in rivers, and they store significant amounts of carbon that otherwise would be released to the atmosphere.