Bow River
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Bow River is a river in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is a tributary of the South Saskatchewan River, and is considered the headwater of the Nelson River.
The name "Bow" refers to the reeds that grew along its banks and which were used by the local First Nations peoples to make bows; the Peigan name for the river is "Makhabn", meaning "river where bow weeds grow".[1]
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[edit] Course
The river's source is from the Bow Glacier and Bow Lake in the Canadian Rockies. It flows south to the village of Lake Louise then turns east and flows through the town of Banff then through Canmore. The Ghost Lake reservoir is formed upstream from the town of Cochrane. The Bow then flows eastward to the city of Calgary; it continues on to form the South Saskatchewan River when the Bow joins with the Oldman River near Grassy Lake in southern Alberta. Its waters are further shed in the Hudson Bay through the Saskatchewan River, Lake Winnipeg and Nelson River.
Communities located on the Bow include Lake Louise, Banff, Canmore, Cochrane, Calgary, Arrowwood.
Bow River has a total length of 587 km (365 mi) and a drainage area of 26,200 km² (10,116 sq mi).[2]
[edit] Conservation and development
This river is an important source of drinking water, water for irrigation and hydroelectric power. It also provides habitat for wildlife and opportunities for recreation such as fishing and boating. The Bow Falls are located on the river course, near Banff. The Bow Valley Provincial Park was established in the Bow Valley and is a part of the Kananaskis park system. The river is on the right of the 8th to 14th holes of the Banff Springs Hotel golf course.
[edit] Tributaries
Tributaries include the
- Johnston Creek
- Spray
- Cascade
- Kananaskis
- Ghost
- Jumpingpound Creek
- Elbow
- Fish Creek
- Highwood
- West Arrowwood Creek
- Crowfoot Creek
- Newell Creeks
- Divide Creek
Many lakes, glacial and artificial are found in the Bow Valley: Bow Lake, Hector Lake, Vermilion Lakes, Gap Lake, Lac des Arcs and Ghost Lake on the upper course, and a few man-made reservoirs along the lower course.
[edit] Photo gallery
 Bow River with Calgary Zoo |
 The Bow River in Calgary |
 Bow flowing through Banff |
 Hoodoos above the Bow River. |
[edit] References
- ^ Bow Riverkeeper article about the river.
- ^ Atlas of Canada - Rivers in Canada
[edit] External links
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