Sunwapta River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sunwapta River |
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | Alberta |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Athabasca Glacier 2,037 m (6,683 ft) 52°12′30″N 117°14′14″W / 52.20833°N 117.23722°W |
| River mouth | Athabasca River 1,300 m (4,300 ft) 52°31′41″N 117°41′05″W / 52.52806°N 117.68472°W |
The Sunwapta River is an important river in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is a major tributary of the Athabasca River. This means it is a smaller river that flows into the bigger Athabasca River.
Journey of the Sunwapta River
The Sunwapta River starts high up near the Columbia Icefield. This is a huge area of ice and snow. The river's very beginning, called its headwaters, is in a valley west of Sunwapta Pass. This pass separates Jasper National Park from Banff National Park.
A few kilometers from the pass is Sunwapta Lake. This lake is at the end of the Athabasca Glacier. The Athabasca Glacier is considered the main starting point for the river.
The Sunwapta River then flows northwest through Jasper National Park. It follows the famous Icefields Parkway, a very scenic road. Finally, it joins the Athabasca River shortly after passing Sunwapta Falls.
The name Sunwapta comes from the Stoney language. It means "turbulent river," which describes its fast-moving waters. A geologist named A. P. Coleman gave the river this name in 1892.
Rivers Joining the Sunwapta
Many smaller streams and creeks flow into the Sunwapta River. These are called its tributaries. They add more water to the main river as it flows along.
- Kitchener Creek
- Tangle Creek
- Woolley Creek
- Beauty Creek
- Diadem Creek
- Grizzly Creek
- Jonas Creek
- Poboktan Creek
Images for kids
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The Sunwapta River begins at the end of the Athabasca Glacier.
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Tangle Creek is one of the streams that flows into the Sunwapta River.
