Petitot River facts for kids
The Petitot River is a waterway in northern Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. It flows into the Liard River, which eventually carries its waters to the Arctic Ocean.
The Petitot River starts at Bistcho Lake in northwestern Alberta. From there, it flows westwards. It follows the northern borders of Alberta and British Columbia.
The river then enters the Northwest Territories. It joins the Liard River near the village of Fort Liard. The Liard River then flows into the Mackenzie River, which carries the water all the way to the Arctic Ocean.
How the River Got Its Name
The Petitot River is named after Father Émile Petitot. He was one of the first Europeans to explore this area. He arrived there between 1867 and 1868.
The local Dene people, specifically the Slavey First Nations, have their own name for the river. In their language, it is called mbehcholah. This name means "The Black."
River Facts and Figures
The Petitot River is quite long, stretching for about 404 kilometres (251 mi). That's like driving from one big city to another!
The area of land that drains into the Petitot River is also very large. This "drainage area" covers about 23,200 square kilometres (9,000 sq mi). This means all the rain and snow that falls in this huge area eventually flows into the Petitot River.
Smaller Rivers Joining Petitot
Many smaller streams and rivers flow into the Petitot River. These are called tributaries. They add more water to the main river as it flows along.
Some of these tributaries include:
- Thinahtea Lake Creek
- July Lake Creek
- Sahdoanah Creek
- Thetlaandoa Creek
- Tsea River
- Dilly Creek
- D'Easum Creek
