Prophet River facts for kids

The Prophet River is a cool river located in northern British Columbia, Canada. It's like a smaller stream that flows into a bigger one called the Muskwa River.

This river is so important that it gives its name to a few places! There's the Prophet River Hotsprings Provincial Park and the Prophet River Wayside Provincial Park, both found along its path. It also named the small town of Prophet River, British Columbia and even a special rock layer called the Prophet Formation.

Where Does the Prophet River Start and Flow?

The Prophet River begins high up in the Muskwa Ranges, which are part of the Northern Rocky Mountains. Imagine it starting at an elevation of about 2,000 meters (that's over 6,500 feet!).

From its start, the river flows mostly towards the east. It travels between two large protected areas: the Northern Rocky Mountains Provincial Park and the Redfern-Keily Provincial Park. Sometimes, you might even see small waterfalls along its journey!

Parks and Natural Features Along the River

Near where the river starts, you'll find the Prophet River Hotsprings Provincial Park. This is a remote and beautiful spot. As the river continues, it picks up water from smaller streams like Hewer Creek, Kravac Creek, and Richards Creek.

Just before the river leaves the mountains and flows into the flatter plains, it meets the Besa River. This is a significant meeting point for the river.

The River's Journey Through the Plains

After leaving the mountains, the Prophet River continues its path. More streams join it, including Milliken Creek and Bat Creek. The river then turns towards the north-east.

As it flows, it collects water from many other creeks like Minaker River, Bunch Creek, Dethseda Creek, Chipesia Creek, and Sass Creek. The river then turns north and goes through the Prophet River Wayside Provincial Park. For a bit, the famous Alaska Highway even follows alongside the river!

In this section, even more streams add to the river's flow, such as Bougie Creek, Adsett Creek, Jacknife Creek, Parker Creek, and Little Beaver Creek. The river starts to curve and bend a lot, forming what are called "meanders." Finally, it receives water from Tenaka Creek, Big Beaver Creek, Cheves Creek, Tsachehdza Creek, and Jackfish Creek.

Where the Prophet River Ends

The Prophet River eventually flows into the Muskwa River. This happens right next to the town of Fort Nelson, British Columbia, at an elevation of about 304 meters (around 1,000 feet).

The Muskwa River then flows into the Fort Nelson River. The Fort Nelson River joins the Liard River, which then carries all this water into the massive Mackenzie River. And guess what? The Mackenzie River eventually empties into the chilly Arctic Ocean! So, a drop of water from the Prophet River could end up in the Arctic!

What Are the Prophet River's Main Tributaries?

A tributary is a smaller stream or river that flows into a larger one. The Prophet River has many tributaries that help make it bigger as it flows. Here are some of the main ones:

• Hewer Creek
• Kravac Creek
• Richards Creek
• Besa River
• Milliken Creek
• Bat Creek
• Minaker River
• Bunch Creek
• Dethseda Creek
• Chipesia Creek
• Sass Creek
• Bougie Creek
• Adsett Creek
• Jacknife Creek
• Parker Creek
• Little Beaver Creek
• Tenaka Creek
• Big Beaver Creek
• Cheves Creek
• Tsachehdza Creek
• Jackfish Creek