Swan River (Manitoba–Saskatchewan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Swan River |
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|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Provinces | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Porcupine Hills |
| River mouth | Swan Lake |
| Length | 110 mi (180 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 1,635 sq mi (4,230 km2) |
The Swan River is a cool river found in Canada. It flows through two provinces: Manitoba and Saskatchewan. This river, along with other places nearby, got its name from the beautiful trumpeter swans that live in the area. Imagine seeing these big, white birds gliding on the water!
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Where Does the Swan River Flow?
The Swan River is part of the Swan Lake water system. It starts way up in the northwest, in a place called the Porcupine Hills. From there, it flows mostly south through a wide valley. This valley is about two miles (3 km) wide and 400 feet (120 m) deep!
Journey to Swan Lake
As the river gets closer to Pelly, Saskatchewan, it changes direction and turns northeast. Along the way, it collects water from smaller streams. These streams come from the northern side of the Duck Mountains. Finally, the Swan River ends its journey at Swan Lake.
The land around the Swan River isn't flat. The hills where it starts, the Porcupine Hills, drop about 100 feet for every mile. The land near Norquay, Saskatchewan is about 1,700 feet (518 m) above sea level. When the river reaches Swan Lake, the elevation is much lower, around 850 feet (260 m) above sea level. This means the river flows downhill, making its way to the lake.
How Much Water Does the River Hold?
The Swan River collects water from a large area, called its drainage basin. This area covers about 1,635 square miles (4,235 km²). The river can hold a lot of water! In 1922, it had its highest amount of water ever recorded for a year. In 1995, it had its highest daily flow, moving about 8,511 cubic feet (241 cubic meters) of water every second. That's like filling a small swimming pool in a few seconds!
Tributaries: The River's Helpers
Many smaller streams flow into the Swan River, helping to fill it up. These are called tributaries. Some important tributaries include Maloneck Creek and Spruce Creek. These start right on the Swan River plain. Other tributaries, like Bear Head Creek, Roaring River, the West and East Favel Rivers, and the Sinclair River, begin in the Duck Mountains.
Communities Along the River
Several towns and communities are located along the Swan River or its tributaries. The town of Swan River and Lenswood are right on the main river. Other communities like Norquay are on Spruce Creek, and Minitonas is on the East Favel River.
The amount of water flowing through the town of Swan River each year is huge. It's about 200,000 acre-feet (247 million cubic meters) of water!
Water Quality of the Swan River
The quality of the water in the Swan River is generally good. Sometimes it's considered fair. Scientists check the water regularly. In recent years, they have noticed that the levels of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in the water have been going down. This is good news for the river and the creatures that live in it!
