Puskwaskau River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Puskwaskau River |
|
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Puskwaskau Lake 715 meters (2,346 ft) 55°16′44″N 117°39′09″W / 55.27887°N 117.65259°W |
| River mouth | Smoky River 440 meters (1,440 ft) 55°29′03″N 118°09′23″W / 55.48403°N 118.15646°W |
The Puskwaskau River is a small river located in Northern Alberta, Canada. It flows west through a region known as the Peace River Country. This river is a "tributary," meaning it flows into a larger river, which in this case is the Smoky River.
The water from the Puskwaskau River travels a very long way! It joins the Smoky River, then the Peace River, the Slave River, and finally empties into the huge Great Slave Lake. From there, it flows into the Mackenzie River and eventually reaches the cold Arctic Ocean.
What's in a Name?
The name of the Puskwaskau River comes from the Cree people. In Cree, "Puskwaskau" means short grass. This name likely describes the type of plants found along the river's banks.
A special rock layer, called the Puskwaskau Formation, was also named after this river. This rock layer is part of a much larger area called the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. Scientists study these formations to learn about Earth's history.
The River's Journey
The Puskwaskau River begins its journey in Puskwaskau Lake. This lake is located in an area called the Sturgeon Heights. The river starts at a high point, about 715 meters (2,346 ft) above sea level. This is north-west of a town called Valleyview.
As the river flows, it heads towards the north-west. It soon meets and takes in water from another smaller river, the Little Puskwaskau River. After this, the river flows under Highway 676.
The river then continues flowing west. It carves its way through a deep canyon, which is about 150 meters (490 ft) deep. Finally, the Puskwaskau River empties into the Smoky River. This meeting point is west of Teepee Creek. Here, the river is at a lower elevation of about 440 meters (1,440 ft). The entire journey of the Puskwaskau River from its start to its end is about 40 kilometers (25 mi) long.
River Branches
The Puskwaskau River gets its water from a few different places. These are called its tributaries or sources.
- Puskwaskau Lake (where the river starts)
- Little Puskwaskau River (a smaller river that flows into it)
