View source for Athabasca Falls

{{Infobox waterfall
| name = Athabasca Falls
| photo = Athabasca Falls - Jasper.jpg
| photo_width = 
| photo_caption = Winter falls in the late January
| alt = Waterfall in winter with snow and ice
| map = 
| coordinates = {{coord|52|39|51|N|117|53|01|W|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref = 
| location = [[Jasper National Park]], Alberta, Canada
| elevation_m = 
| type = Segmented Horsetails
| run = {{cvt|15|m|ft}} <ref name=WWD>{{Cite web|title=Athabasca Falls, Alberta, Canada - World Waterfall Database|url=https://www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com/waterfall/Athabasca-Falls-2576|access-date=2020-11-03|website=www.worldwaterfalldatabase.com|language=en}}</ref>
| height = {{cvt|24|m|ft}} <ref name=WWD/>
| width = {{cvt|46|m|ft}} <ref name=WWD/>
| height_longest = {{cvt|20|m|ft}} <ref name=WWD/>
| average_width = {{cvt|30|m|ft}} <ref name=WWD/>
| number_drops = 2
| average_flow = {{cvt|113|m3/s|ft3/s|abbr=on}}<ref name=WWD/>
| watercourse = [[Athabasca River]]
| world_rank = 
}}

'''Athabasca Falls''' is a [[waterfall]] in [[Jasper National Park]] on the upper [[Athabasca River]], approximately {{convert|30|km}} south of the townsite of [[Jasper, Alberta]], Canada, and just west of the [[Icefields Parkway]].

== Geography and geology ==
Athabasca Falls is a Class 5 waterfall, with a total drop height of {{convert|24|m|ft|abbr=on}} and a width of {{convert|46|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name=WWD/> A powerful, picturesque waterfall, Athabasca Falls is not known so much for its height as for its force, due to the large quantity of water falling into the gorge, which can be substantial even on a cold morning in the fall, when river levels tend to be at their lowest. The river falls over a layer of hard [[quartzite]] and through the softer [[limestone]] below, carving a short gorge and a number of potholes.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Parks Canada Agency|first=Government of Canada|date=2017-08-02|title=Athabasca Falls - Jasper National Park|url=https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/jasper/activ/itineraires-itineraries/athabasca|access-date=2020-10-13|website=www.pc.gc.ca}}</ref>

== Access ==
The falls can be safely viewed and photographed from various viewing platforms and walking trails around the falls. Access is from the nearby parking lot, which leads off [[Icefields Parkway#Highway 93A|Highway 93A]] just northeast of the falls. Highway 93A takes off from the nearby Icefields Parkway, and crosses the falls on the way north to the town of Jasper. Whitewater rafting often starts below the falls to travel downstream on the Athabasca River to Jasper.

The Athabasca Falls are located near two [[List of crossings of the Athabasca River|Athabasca River crossings]]: Highway 93A has a historic bridge<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Athabasca Bridge |url=http://www.athabascaarchives.ca/the-athabasca-bridge.html |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Athabasca Archives |language=en}}</ref> which allows vehicles to cross the river, and there is also a pedestrian bridge located nearby, closer to the falls.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hamilton |first=Paul C. |title=Athabasca Falls Details |url=https://www.athabascafalls.com/Athabasca-Falls-Details.html |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=www.athabascafalls.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Photo gallery==
<gallery mode=packed>
Image:JNP Athabasca Falls MGB01.jpg|
Image:Athabasca Falls - Glen Larson.jpg|
Image:Athabasca_Falls_2005-06-11.jpeg|
Image:Athabasca_Falls_Closeup.jpg|
Image:Athabasca_Falls_2008.JPG|
Image:Athabasca Falls Fall 2006.jpg|
Image:Athabasca Falls warning sign.jpg|Warning sign
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[List of waterfalls]]
*[[List of waterfalls of Canada]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
*Explore Jasper. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060901221834/http://www.explorejasper.com/sights/athabascafalls.htm Athabasca Falls]

{{Alberta rivers and lakes}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Jasper National Park]]
[[Category:Waterfalls of Alberta]]


{{AlbertaRockies-geo-stub}}