Saskatchewan River
The
Saskatchewan River is actually two major
rivers:
Both rivers originate from
glaciers in the
Rocky Mountains of
Alberta and flow east. The two rivers combine and eventually flow into
Lake Winnipeg and on to
Hudson Bay by way of the
Nelson River. The Saskatchewan River, like the province of
Saskatchewan, takes its name from the
Cree word "Kisiskatchewan", meaning "swift current".
The North Saskatchewan flows through Banff National Park from its source in the Saskatchewan glacier. The North Saskatchewan has been designated a Canadian Heritage River for its importance in opening up western Canada.
The South Saskatchewan begins at the junction of the Oldman and Bow Rivers in Alberta. It joins the North Saskatchewan east of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
Major tributaries include the following rivers:
- Clearwater
- Vermillion
- Bow
- Oldman
- Red Deer
The North and South Saskatchewan River system are an important source of water for the southern Canadian prairies.