Clearwater River (Alberta) facts for kids
The Clearwater River is a beautiful river in southern Alberta, Canada. It flows through the amazing Canadian Rockies and their foothills. This river gets its water from glaciers, which are like giant, slow-moving ice rivers! The Clearwater River is a major branch, also called a tributary, of the North Saskatchewan River. Many people enjoy exploring the upper parts of the Clearwater River, especially on horseback, because of its stunning natural beauty.
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The Clearwater River: A Journey Through Alberta
Let's follow the journey of the Clearwater River! From a place called Trident Lake, the river stretches for about 203 kilometres (126 mi). During its journey, it drops about 350 metres (1,150 ft) until it reaches Rocky Mountain House.
Where Does It Start?
The Clearwater River begins high up in Banff National Park. It starts on the southern side of Mount Willingdon. From there, it flows into the Devon Lakes at Clearwater Pass.
The River's Path
From the Devon Lakes, the river flows about 11 kilometres (7 mi). It drops about 400 metres (1,300 ft) before reaching Clearwater Lake. About 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) after Clearwater Lake, the river drops another 50 metres (160 ft). Here, it reaches Trident Lake, where it becomes calm enough for canoeing.
The river then travels east for about 15 kilometres (9 mi). It drops about 120 metres (390 ft) before leaving Banff National Park. The river continues east for another 18 kilometres (11 mi). It drops about 150 metres (490 ft) more. Then, it turns north and leaves the Ram Range in the Rocky Mountain Foothills.
About 20 kilometres (12 mi) further along, the river turns east again. It meets its first road near Idlewild Mountain. About 70 kilometres (43 mi) later, the river turns northwest. Finally, about 30 kilometres (19 mi) further, the Clearwater River flows into the North Saskatchewan River.
Smaller Streams Joining In
Many smaller streams, called tributaries, flow into the Clearwater River along its journey. These streams add more water to the river.
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Images for kids
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The Clearwater River starts from the Devon Lakes.
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Trident Lake is a calm spot along the Clearwater River.
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The Clearwater River flows through the beautiful Canadian Rockies.
