Torch River (Saskatchewan)

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Torch River
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Map of Saskatchewan River drainage basin
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Location of the mouth in Saskatchewan
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Torch River (Saskatchewan) (Canada)
Location
Country Canada
Province Saskatchewan
Physical characteristics
Source 
  location Candle Lake
  coordinates 53°45′33″N105°09′30″W / 53.7591°N 105.1584°W / 53.7591; -105.1584
  elevation491 m (1,611 ft)
Mouth Saskatchewan River
  location
Saskatchewan River Delta
  coordinates
53°51′40″N103°05′46″W / 53.8610°N 103.0962°W / 53.8610; -103.0962
  elevation
273 m (896 ft)
Length150 km (93 mi)
Basin features
River system Nelson River
Tributaries 
  left White Gull Creek, Stewart Creek, Missipuskiow River
  right White Fox River

Torch River [1] is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is the dam at Candle Lake, near Candle Lake Provincial Park, [2] and it travels east through boreal forest [3] and muskeg en route to its mouth in the Saskatchewan River Delta. Torch River Provincial Forest, a conservation area, is located along the course of the river, near where White Fox River flows into Torch River. Torch River is a significant tributary of the Saskatchewan River and it is part of the Hudson Bay drainage basin.

Contents

Description

The Torch River is a tributary of the Saskatchewan River and it flows into one of North America's largest inland fresh water deltas, the Saskatchewan River Delta. [4] The river begins at the south-east corner of Candle Lake from a dam at Hanson Bay near Minowakaw Beach Campground [5] in the RM of Paddockwood No. 520. The dam is a 3.1-metre high concrete dam that was constructed in 1978–1979 and is operated by the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority. [6] Less than a mile after the river starts, it crosses Highway 120, leaves the RM of Paddockwood, and enters the RM of Torch River No. 488.

It travels in a generally eastward direction through muskeg and boreal forest and along the way, it is joined by several tributaries, including White Gull Creek, Stewart Creek, White Fox River, and Missipuskiow River and crosses Highway 106 near Fyson Lake. Stewart Creek has its headwaters in the Cub Hills [7] and Narrow Hills Provincial Park. At the confluence of Torch and White Fox Rivers, the course takes it through the Torch River Provincial Forest and as it approaches Tobin Lake, it starts to parallel the Saskatchewan River. As it passes Tobin Lake, it enters into the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District and meets up with the Saskatchewan River downstream shortly thereafter. [8]

Tributaries

The following is a list of tributaries of Torch River from the upper part of the watershed to the lower part:

See also

Related Research Articles

Little Bear Lake is a lake in the boreal forest ecozone in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The lake is in a hilly plateau called Cub Hills and the landforms, such as the lakes and streams, of the Cub Hills were formed over 10,000 years ago during the last ice age. Little Bear Lake is accessed from the Hanson Lake Road, which runs along the eastern side of the lake, and by a small airport called Little Bear Lake Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candle Lake (Saskatchewan)</span> Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada

Candle Lake is a reservoir in the central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in the boreal forest, approximately 80 kilometres (50 mi) north-east of Prince Albert. A dam completed in 1979 at the southern end of the lake regulates water levels; several small creeks feed into the lake and Torch River flows out of the lake at the dam. Candle Lake Provincial Park surrounds most of the lake and the resort village of Candle Lake is at the southern end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narrow Hills Provincial Park</span> Provincial park in Saskatchewan, Canada

Narrow Hills Provincial Park is a northern boreal forest provincial recreational park in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is located in a hilly plateau called the Cub Hills and contains several recreational facilities and over 25 accessible lakes within its boundaries. The geographical features of the park, including the lakes, valleys, and lowlands were formed over 10,000 years ago during the last ice age. The town of Smeaton is the closest community and it is located 70 kilometres (43 mi) to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McDougal Creek</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

McDougal Creek is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is at the southern end of Divide Lake at the northern end of Narrow Hills Provincial Park in a hilly plateau called Cub Hills. The landforms of the Cub Hills, such as the lakes, streams, steeply rolling hills, and flat lowlands, were formed over 10,000 years ago during the last ice age. The entire course of the river is in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nipekamew River</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

Nipekamew River is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is Nipekamew Lake at the north-western edge of the Cub Hills and its mouth is in Nipekamew Bay at the southern shore of Lac la Ronge. From the northern tip of Nipekamew Lake, the river travels from south to north through muskeg and boreal forest en route to Lac la Ronge. Lake la Ronge empties north into the Churchill River through Rapid River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nipekamew Creek</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

Nipekamew Creek is a river in the boreal forest ecozone in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Its source is in muskeg approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Piprell Lake, near Highway 913. From the muskeg, the creek flows in a northerly direction through forests, rolling hills, glacier formed valleys, first into Stuart Lake, then Nipekamew Lake. The creek can be accessed from Highways 927, 913, and 912. After the creek leaves Stuart Lake, it follows the course of Highway 912 from there until it empties into Nipekamew Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mossy River</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

Mossy River is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is east of Little Bear Lake and north-east of Narrow Hills Provincial Park in a hilly plateau called Cub Hills. The river travels through hills, boreal forest, and muskeg for about 100 kilometres en route to its mouth in the Saskatchewan River Delta. Highway 920 is the only road to access the mainstem of the river and there are no communities nor settlements along the course of the river.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Gull Creek</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

White Gull Creek is a river in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is White Gull Lake, near the south-western boundary of Narrow Hills Provincial Park and near the southern slopes of the Cub Hills. The river travels through boreal forest and muskeg en route to its mouth at the Torch River. The Torch River is a tributary of the Saskatchewan River as it flows into one of North America's largest inland fresh water deltas, the Saskatchewan River Delta. There are no communities nor settlements along the river.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stewart Creek (Saskatchewan)</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

Stewart Creek is a river in the east-central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is Lower Fishing Lake of the Cub Hills in Narrow Hills Provincial Park, and it travels south through boreal forest and muskeg en route to its mouth at the Torch River. The Torch River flows east to the Saskatchewan River, which is part of the Hudson Bay drainage basin. There are no communities nor settlements along the course of the river.

Lost Echo Lake is a lake in the east-central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in Narrow Hills Provincial Park. It is situated in a glacier-formed valley in the Cub Hills and the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. It is south of Summit Lake and is accessed from secondary roads that branch off of Highway 913. While there are no communities nor settlements on the lake, there is the Lost Echo Wilderness Campsite on the western shore.

Summit Lake is a lake in the east-central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in Narrow Hills Provincial Park. It is situated in a glacier-formed valley in the Cub Hills and the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. It is located north of Lost Echo Lake and is accessed from Highway 913. There are no communities or settlements on the lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caribou Creek</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

Caribou Creek is a river in the east-central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The river's source is in a hilly plateau called Cub Hills, near the western boundary of Narrow Hills Provincial Park. The river heads south following a glacier-carved valley through the Cub Hills en route to its mouth at Lower Fishing Lake. The entire course of the river is in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. Caribou Creek is a tributary of Stewart Creek, which flows south and into the east-flowing Torch River. Torch River is a tributary of the Saskatchewan River as it flows into the Saskatchewan River Delta. Much of the upper watershed was burned in 1977 in what is known as the Fishing Lakes Fire and is now dominated by a forest of jack pine.

Lower Fishing Lake is a lake in the east-central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in Narrow Hills Provincial Park. It is situated in the Cub Hills and the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. The lake is accessed from Highway 920, which connects to Hanson Lake Road and Highway 120. The Fishing Lakes Fire of 1977 burned much of the region upstream and around the lake and now the area is now dominated by jack pine, which is a tree species that is well adapted fire burned forests.

Baldy Lake is a lake in the east-central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in Narrow Hills Provincial Park. It is situated in the Cub Hills and the boreal forest ecozone of Canada.

Hanson Lake is a lake in the east-central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. The lake is irregularly shaped with many bays, islands, and channels as it was formed by glaciers during the last ice age. It is fed by multiple rivers and creeks from surrounding hills, smaller lakes, and muskeg. Hanson Lake's outflow is through a short river at the eastern end of the lake as it flows into the Sturgeon-Weir River, a tributary of the Saskatchewan River.

The Cub Hills are a hilly plateau located south-east of the geographical centre of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The hills are in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada and the landforms of the hills were shaped more than 10,000 years ago during last ice age. Throughout the Cub Hills, there are dozens of lakes and rivers and several parks. The Cubs Hills are 150 km (93 mi) north-east of Prince Albert and are in the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District and Census Division #18. Several highways criss-cross the plateau to provide access to the various parks and other amenities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cowan River</span> River in Saskatchewan, Canada

Cowan River is a river in the west-central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. The river begins at Cowan Lake Dam near the northern end of Cowan Lake and flows north-west through muskeg and forest to meet Beaver River. Beaver River then flows into Lac Île-à-la-Crosse and the Churchill River. The entirety of Cowen River is within the Northern Saskatchewan Administration District and while there are no communities along its course, the towns of Big River and Spiritwood are in its watershed.

Candle Lake Provincial Park is a provincial park in the central region of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Prior to the park's establishment in 1986, it was a provincial recreation site. Located in the Rural Municipality of Paddockwood No. 520, Candle Lake Provincial Park surrounds most of Candle and Torch Lakes in the boreal forest ecozone of Canada. The park has a variety of activities including camping, boating, fishing, swimming, mini golfing, hiking, and golfing. Around the lake there are also boat launches and several marinas. Natural attractions include a purple sand beach, sand dunes, mature forests, crystal clear lake water, and several natural sand beaches.

Clarence-Steepbank Lakes Provincial Park is a remote wilderness park in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is located in the boreal forest ecozone east of Prince Albert National Park and Montreal Lake, west of the Cub Hills and Narrow Hills Provincial Park, south of Nipekamew and East Trout Lakes, and north of Whiteswan Lakes and Candle Lake Provincial Park. The city of Prince Albert is approximately 150 kilometres (93 mi) to the south and access to the park is from Highway 927.

Birchbark Lake is a lake in the central part of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Most of the western half of the lake is in the RM of Paddockwood No. 520, while the eastern side is in the RM of Torch River No. 488. A provincial recreation site is located on the south-eastern shore of the lake and access is from a grid road connecting to Highway 55.

References

  1. Government of Canada, Natural Resources Canada. "Place names - Torch River". www4.rncan.gc.ca.
  2. "Candle Lake Provincial Park". Tourism Saskatchewan. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  3. "Boreal Plains Ecozone". ecozones. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  4. "Sask River Delta Conservation Initiative". Sask River Delta. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  5. "Minowukaw Beach Campground". Tourism Saskatchewan. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  6. "Dams & Reservoirs".
  7. "Trout Streams of the Cub Hills". environment.gov.sk. Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment.
  8. "Torch River Provincial Forest, Saskatchewan Map". Geodata.us. Retrieved 18 February 2022.