Bighorn River (Alberta)

Last updated
Bighorn River
Bighorn river valley 2007-06.jpg
Bighorn River Valley and Crescent Falls
Location
Country Canada
Province Alberta
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationBighorn Meadows
  coordinates 52°17′34″N116°32′39″W / 52.29278°N 116.54417°W / 52.29278; -116.54417
  elevation1,985 m (6,512 ft)
Mouth  
  location
North Saskatchewan River
  coordinates
52°21′17″N116°14′51″W / 52.35472°N 116.24750°W / 52.35472; -116.24750 Coordinates: 52°21′17″N116°14′51″W / 52.35472°N 116.24750°W / 52.35472; -116.24750
  elevation
1,216 m (3,990 ft)

The Bighorn River is a short river originating in the Alberta foothills, and is a tributary of the North Saskatchewan River. The river, as well as the nearby Bighorn Range and Bighorn Dam are named for the Bighorn sheep which dominate the area. The name first appeared in 1865. [1]

Flowing under Mount McGuire, Bighorn River soon takes on Littlehorn and Sunkay Creeks, before plummeting over the impressive Crescent Falls. After the falls, the Bighorn travels through a significant canyon, before passing through the Bighorn Indian Reserve. The river then empties into the North Saskatchewan River after Lake Abraham. [2]

The Bighorn River Canyon Bighornrivercanyon.JPG
The Bighorn River Canyon

See also

Related Research Articles

Sunwapta River river in Canada

The Sunwapta River is a major tributary of the Athabasca River in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada.

Seebe, Alberta

Seebe is a former hamlet in Alberta, Canada, within the Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8. It is a former Calgary Power Company Ltd. employee townsite that was closed on August 31, 2004.

North Saskatchewan River river in Alberta and Saskatchewan

The North Saskatchewan River is a glacier-fed river that flows from the Canadian Rockies continental divide east to central Saskatchewan, where it joins with another major river to make up the Saskatchewan River. Its water flows eventually into the Hudson Bay.

Abraham Lake lake in Alberta, Canada

Abraham Lake, also known as Lake Abraham, is an artificial lake and Alberta's largest reservoir. It is located in the "Kootenay Plains area of the Canadian Rockies' front range", on the North Saskatchewan River in western Alberta, Canada.

Albertas Rockies Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada

Alberta's Rockies comprises the Canadian Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada. It is a region on the southwestern part of the province, along the British Columbia border. It covers all but the south of Census Division 15.

Cardinal River river in Canada

Cardinal River is a short river in western Alberta, Canada. It flows from the Canadian Rockies, and empties into the Brazeau River, itself a major tributary of the North Saskatchewan River.

Siffleur River river in Canada

The Siffleur River is a short river rising in the Canadian Rockies in western Alberta. The Siffleur River is an early tributary of the North Saskatchewan River.

Chaba River (Canada) river in Alberta, Canada

The Chaba River is a short river in western Alberta, Canada. It flows from the Canadian Rockies, and joins the Athabasca River.

Bighorn Dam dam in Clearwater County, Alberta, Canada

Bighorn Dam is a dam located in Clearwater County in west-central Alberta, Canada. It was built by Calgary Power in 1972, and led to the creation of Lake Abraham, Alberta's largest man-made lake. The dam and associated hydroelectric plant are managed by TransAlta.

Crescent Falls Waterfall

Crescent Falls are a series of two waterfalls located on the Bighorn River in west-central Alberta, Canada. They were originally called the Bighorn Falls, after the river they are located on.

Nigel Creek river in Canada

Nigel Creek is a short stream located in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. It forms in the glacial meltwaters north of Sunwapta Pass and takes on streams flowing from Nigel Pass.

Fiddle River river in Canada

The Fiddle River is a medium-sized tributary of the Athabasca River, flowing into the river near the east gate of Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. The Fiddle River forms at the base of Fiddle Pass, with meltwater from Mount Bryant, Mount Gregg, Mount Sir Harold Mitchel, and Mount Barry. The river flows in a general northeast direction before its confluence with the Athabasca. The Fiddle River parallels the road to the popular Miette Hotsprings for a portion of its course.

Maligne River river in Canada

The Maligne River is a medium-sized river in the Canadian Rockies. It runs through parts of Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. The Maligne is a major tributary of the Athabasca River. The river takes from the French word for malignant or wicked. It is theorised that a Belgian priest voyageur created this name in reference to the current of the river near its confluence with the Athabasca River.

Assineau River river in Canada

The Assineau River is a short river forming in central Alberta. The Assineau flows into Lesser Slave Lake, which flows out through the Lesser Slave River, a major tributary of the Athabasca River. The name for the river was in use by 1904. It is suggested that Assineau is a version of the Cree word for nobody.

Driftpile River river in Canada

The Driftpile River is a medium-length river forming in central Alberta. The Drifpile flows into Lesser Slave Lake, which flows out through the Lesser Slave River, a major tributary of the Athabasca River. The Geological Survey of Canada was using the name Driftpile by 1892. The river was named because of the large amount of driftwood that collected at the river's mouth.

See also Marten River, Ontario

The Jackpine River is an early tributary of the Smoky River. It forms in the Canadian Rockies, within Willmore Wilderness Park, in the province of Alberta, north of Jasper National Park. The river collects the runoff from Resthaven Mountain, Barricade Mountain, Jackpine Mountain, Mount Holmes, Perseverance Mountain, and Draco Peak.

The Muddywater River is an early tributary of the Smoky River. It forms in the Canadian Rockies, within Willmore Wilderness Park, in the province of Alberta, north of Jasper National Park. The Muddywater forms at Morkill Pass, on the Continental Divide between Alberta and British Columbia.

The Snake Indian River is a large tributary of the Athabasca River, exiting entirely within Jasper National Park. The Snake Indian forms at Snake Indian Pass, south of Monte Christo Mountain and Snake Indian Mountain, north of Calumet Peak. The river travels in a general northwest direction before turning sharply south. The river plummets over the massive Snake Indian Falls before joining the Athabasca River downstream of Jasper Lake, near the east gate of Jasper National Park.

Snaring River river in Canada

The Snaring River is a medium-sized river in the Canadian Rockies. It runs through parts of Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. The Snaring River is a significant tributary of the Athabasca River. The Snaring is named after a former local tribe of first nations people who lived in dugouts and trapped animals with snares.

References

  1. Karamitsanis, Aphrodite (1991). Place Names of Alberta, Volume 1. Calgary: University of Calgary Press, pg. 22
  2. Mussio Ventures (2004). Southwestern Alberta Backroad Mapbook, Burnaby: Mussio Ventures.