James Bay

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James Bay
A satellite image of James Bay
James Bay
Location	Southern end of Hudson Bay, between Ontario and Quebec, politically part of Nunavut
Coordinates	53°30′N 80°30′W / 53.500°N 80.500°W / 53.500; -80.500 (James Bay)[1]
Basin countries	Canada
Max. length	443 km (275 mi)[2]
Max. width	217 km (135 mi)[2]
Surface area	68,300 km2 (26,400 sq mi)
Average depth	60 m (200 ft)[2]

James Bay (French: Baie James;^[3] Cree: ᐐᓂᐯᒄ, romanized: Wînipekw, lit. 'dirty water') is a large body of water located on the southern end of Hudson Bay in Canada. It borders the provinces of Quebec and Ontario, and is politically part of Nunavut. Its largest island is Akimiski Island.

Numerous waterways of the James Bay watershed have been modified with dams or diversion for several major hydroelectric projects. These waterways are also destinations for river-based recreation. Several communities are located near or alongside James Bay, including a number of Aboriginal Canadian communities, such as the Kashechewan First Nation and nine communities affiliated with the Cree of northern Quebec.

As with the rest of Hudson Bay, the waters of James Bay routinely freeze over in winter. It is the last part of Hudson Bay to freeze over in winter, and the first to thaw in summer.