View source for Athabasca River

{{Short description|River in Alberta, Canada}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Athabasca River
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = 
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = Athabasca River, Icefields Parkway (2987364327).jpg
| image_caption      = Athabasca River in [[Jasper National Park]]
| image_size         = 300
| map                = Athabasca Watershed-WCanada.png
| map_size           = 300
| map_caption        = Athabasca River watershed in western [[Canada]]
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_map_size   = 300
| pushpin_map_caption= 
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = Canada
| subdivision_type2  = Province
| subdivision_name2  = Alberta
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = 
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| subdivision_type5  = 
| subdivision_name5  = 
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = {{convert|1231|km|mi|abbr=on}}<ref name=Atlas>{{Cite web|url=http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/learningresources/facts/rivers.html#arctic |title=Canadian Rivers |author=Atlas of Canada |author-link=Atlas of Canada |access-date=2007-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202064028/http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/learningresources/facts/rivers.html |archive-date=2 February 2007 }}</ref> 
| width_min          = 
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = 
| depth_min          = 
| depth_avg          = 
| depth_max          = 
| discharge1_location= Athabasca Delta<ref name="Benke 845">Benke and Cushing, p. 845</ref>
| discharge1_min     = {{convert|75.0|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_avg     = {{convert|783|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}<ref name="Benke 845">Benke and Cushing, p. 845</ref>
| discharge1_max     = {{convert|4790|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = [[Columbia Icefield]]
| source1_location   = [[Jasper National Park]]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|52|10|4|N|117|25|50|W|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation  = {{convert|1520|m|abbr=on}}(foot of glacier)
| mouth              = [[Lake Athabasca]]
| mouth_location     = 
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|58|37|35|N|110|50|5|W|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation    = {{convert|205|m|abbr=on}}
| progression        = 
| river_system       = 
| basin_size         = {{convert|95300|km2|abbr=on}}<ref name=Atlas/>
| tributaries_left   = 
| tributaries_right  = 
| custom_label       = 
| custom_data        = 
| extra              = <ref>{{cite web
| title = Natural Resources Canada-Canadian Geographical Names (Athabasca River)
| url = http://www4.rncan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/IAQZZ 
| access-date =2014-08-29}}</ref><ref name= "Atlas of Canada">{{cite web
| title =Atlas of Canada Toporama
| url =http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/english/toporama/index.html
| access-date =2014-08-29}}</ref>
}}
The '''Athabasca River''' (French: ''Rivière Athabasca'') in [[Alberta]], Canada, originates at the [[Columbia Icefield]] in [[Jasper National Park]] and flows more than {{convert|1231|km|mi|abbr=on}} before emptying into [[Lake Athabasca]].<ref>"Ecology & Wonder in the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site", Robert W. Sandford, AU Press, {{ISBN|978-1-89742557-2}}, page 160.</ref> Much of the land along its banks is protected in national and provincial parks, and the river is designated a [[Canadian Heritage Rivers System|Canadian heritage river]] for its historical and cultural importance. The scenic [[Athabasca Falls]] is located about {{convert|30|km|mi|abbr=on}} upstream from [[Jasper, Alberta|Jasper]].

==Etymology==
The name ''Athabasca'' comes from the [[Woods Cree]] word {{lang|cwd|ᐊᖬᐸᐢᑳᐤ}}  {{lang|cwd-Latn|aðapaskāw}}, which means "[where] there are plants one after another",<ref>Bright, William (2004). ''Native American Place Names of the United States''. Norman: [[University of Oklahoma Press]], pg. 52</ref> likely a reference to the spotty vegetation along the river.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

==Course==
The Athabasca River originates in Jasper National Park, in Lake Providence<ref>{{Cite web |title=x.com |url=https://x.com/BasedHarun/status/1801124347937243185 |access-date=2024-06-13 |website=X (formerly Twitter)}}</ref> at the toe of the Columbia Glacier<ref name=cgndb>{{cite cgndb|id= IANGY |name= Columbia Glacier |access-date=2019-03-25}}</ref> within the [[Columbia Icefield]], between [[Mount Columbia (Canada)|Mount Columbia]], [[Snow Dome (Canada)|Snow Dome]], and the [[Winston Churchill Range]], at an elevation of approximately {{convert|1600|m|ft}}. It travels {{convert|1231|km|mi|abbr=on}} before draining into the [[Peace-Athabasca Delta]] near Lake Athabasca south of [[Fort Chipewyan, Alberta|Fort Chipewyan]]. From there, its waters flow north as [[Rivière des Rochers]], then join the [[Peace River (Canada)|Peace River]] to form the [[Slave River]], which empties into the [[Great Slave Lake]] and discharges through the [[Mackenzie River]] system into the [[Arctic Ocean]]. The cumulative drainage area is {{convert|95300|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.<ref name=abrivers>{{Cite web|url=http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/basins/BasinForm.cfm |author=Environment Alberta |title=River Basins in Alberta |access-date=2007-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070116201051/http://www3.gov.ab.ca/env/water/basins/BasinForm.cfm |archive-date=16 January 2007 }}</ref>

[[File:Athabasca River JNP.JPG|left|thumb|250px|Athabasca River in Jasper National Park]]
The river flows along icefields and through [[Canyon|gorges]], offering wildlife habitat on its shores and in adjacent marshes. Throughout its course, it flows through or adjacent to numerous [[National park|national]] and [[provincial park]]s, including [[Jasper National Park]], [[Fort Assiniboine Sandhills Wildland Provincial Park]], [[Hubert Lake Wildland Provincial Park]], [[La Biche River Wildland Provincial Park]], [[Grand Rapids Wildland Provincial Park]], [[Richardson Wildland Provincial Park]], and [[Wood Buffalo National Park]]. Its course is marked by [[rapids]], impeding navigation southwest of Fort McMurray.<ref>{{Cite web| url= http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9010050|title=Athabasca River|year=2006|author=Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=2006-09-12|author-link=Encyclopædia Britannica| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060831221714/http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9010050| archive-date= 31 August 2006 | url-status= live}}</ref>

Numerous communities are on the banks of the Athabasca River, including Jasper, [[Brule, Alberta|Brule]], [[Entrance, Alberta|Entrance]], [[Hinton, Alberta|Hinton]], [[Whitecourt]], [[Fort Assiniboine, Alberta|Fort Assiniboine]], [[Smith, Alberta|Smith]], [[Athabasca, Alberta|Athabasca]], [[Fort McMurray]], and [[Fort McKay]].

There are several [[List of crossings of the Athabasca River|crossings of the Athabasca River]] that are in use.

===Tributaries===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
;[[Alberta's Rockies]]
*Habel Creek
*Warwick Creek
*Quincy Creek
*[[Chaba River (Canada)|Chaba River]]
*Dragon Creek
*[[Sunwapta River]]
*Ranger Creek
*Fryatt Creek
**<small>Lick Creek</small>
*Geraldine Lakes
*Kerkeslin Creek
*Hardisty Creek
*[[Whirlpool River]]
*[[Astoria River]]
*Portal Creek
*Wabasso Creek
*Whistlers Creek
*Tekerra Creek
*[[Miette River]]
*Pyramid Lake
*[[Maligne River]]
*Garonne Creek
*[[Snaring River]]
*Morro Creek
*Cobblestone Creek
*Corral Creek
*Jacques Creek
*Rocky River
*[[Snake Indian River]]
*Mountain Creek
*[[Fiddle River]]
*Supply Creek
*Oldhouse Creek
*Prine Creek
*Maskuta Creek

{{col-break}}
;[[Central Alberta]]
*Hardisty Creek
*Fish Creek
*Cache Petotte Creek
*Tiecamp Creek
*Canyon Creek
*Ponoka Creek
*Plante Creek
**<small>Apetowun Creek</small>
*Obed Creek
*Oldman Creek
*Nosehill Creek
*Jackpine Creek
*[[Berland River]]
**Wildhay River
*Beaver Creek
*Marsh Head Creek
*Pine Creek
*Pass Creek
*Two Creek
*Windfall Creek
*Chickadee Creek
*Bessie Creek
*Stony Creek
*Sakwatamau River
*[[McLeod River]]

{{col-break}}
;[[Northern Alberta]]
*[[Freeman River]]
*Timeu Creek
*[[Pembina River (Alberta)|Pembina River]]
*[[Lesser Slave River]]
*Lawrence Lake Creek
*Baptiste Lake Creek
*Tawatinaw River
*La Biche River
*Calling River
*McMillan Lake Creek
*Parallel Creek
*Pelican River
*House River
*Horse River
*[[Clearwater River (Saskatchewan)|Clearwater River]]
*Steepbank River
*Muskeg River
*Mackay River
*Ells River
*[[Firebag River]]
*Richardson River
{{col-end}}

==History==
{{further|Athabasca Country}}
[[Sekani]], [[Secwepemc|Shuswap]], [[Ktunaxa|Kootenay]], [[Selisch|Salish]], [[Nakoda (Stoney)|Stoney]], and [[Cree]] tribes hunted and fished along the river prior to European colonization in the 18th century. From about 1778, the Athabasca River, the [[Clearwater River (Saskatchewan)|Clearwater River]], which enters the Athabasca River from the east at [[Fort McMurray]], and the [[Methye Portage]] were part of a primary [[Fur trade in North America|fur trade]] route from the [[Mackenzie River]] to the [[Great Lakes]] (see [[Canadian Canoe Routes (early)]]).[[Image:HBCScowAthabascaRiver.jpg|thumb|250px|left|A [[Hudson's Bay Company]] scow in the Athabasca River, c. 1910]]
[[David Thompson (explorer)|David Thompson]] and Thomas the Iroquois traveled through [[Athabasca Pass]] in 1811. In 1862, the [[Athabasca Springs]] area was crossed during the [[Cariboo Gold Rush]] by the [[Overlander Party]].

The northern segment of the Athabasca River became part of a major shipping network in 1921 when the [[Alberta and Great Waterways Railway]] reached [[Waterways, Alberta|Waterways]] near [[Fort McMurray]], making it the northernmost point on the North American railroad grid at that time. Cargo for destinations farther north was shipped to Waterways and transferred to barges, after which fleets of tugboats took them up the river to destinations in the Athabasca and Mackenzie River watersheds. Barge traffic declined after 1964 when [[Hay River, Northwest Territories|Hay River]], on the Great Slave Lake in the [[Northwest Territories]], became the northern terminus of the rail grid.<ref name="RR_Atlas">{{cite web|title=Atlas of Alberta Railways: The Alberta and Great Waterways Railway|url=http://railways.library.ualberta.ca/Chapters-11-6/|publisher=University of Alberta|access-date=21 October 2017}}</ref><ref name=FortMcMurrayTourism>
{{cite news 
| url         = http://www.fortmcmurraytourism.com/index.php?area_id=1008&page_id=1138&article_id=31&LIMIT=
| title       = Fort McMurray tourism
| archive-date = 2011-10-11
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20111011083615/http://fortmcmurraytourism.com/index.php?area_id=1008&page_id=1138&article_id=31&LIMIT=
| url-status     = live
}}
</ref><ref name=MontrealGazette1937-04-15>
{{cite news
| url         = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Gi8rAAAAIBAJ&pg=4583,2000389&dq=radium-king&hl=en
| title       = Radium King en route: Eldorado Subsidiary's Ship Leave for West by Train
| newspaper   = [[Montreal Gazette]]
| date        = 1937-04-15
| access-date  = 2012-05-31
| page        = 20
| quote       = Both ships were built for the Northern Transportation Company, a subsidiary of Eldorado Gold Mines, Limited, and will ply the Mackenzie and Athabaska rivers, 1,600 miles north of Edmonton.
}}
</ref>

==Environmental concerns==
Owing to its proximity to the [[Athabasca oil sands]], the river has seen significant amounts of energy infrastructure constructed along its course. On June 6, 1970, a pipeline operated by [[Great Canadian Oil Sands]], the precursor to [[Suncor]] and the earliest commercial extraction operation, ruptured near the banks of the river. The total spill volume was estimated by Great Canadian Oil Sands at approximately {{convert|1,190|oilbbl}}.<ref>Province of Alberta, ''Alberta Government Committee Report on Great Canadian Oil Sands Oil Spill to Athabasca River June 6, 1970'', Edmonton: Alberta Government, 1970. Page 3.</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4eRUAAAAIBAJ&dq=alberta%20oil-spill&pg=1367%2C3010999 | title=Lake Athabasca oil slick broken by wind | newspaper=[[The Leader-Post]] | date=June 17, 1970 | access-date=July 18, 2014}}</ref>

In 2012, an independent study concluded that the Athabasca River contained [[Athabasca oil sands#Water|elevated levels of pollution]] downstream of the Athabasca [[oil sands]]. Testing showed this portion of the river contained [[mercury (element)|mercury]], [[lead]], and 11 other toxic elements.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/prairies/elevated-levels-of-toxins-found-in-athabasca-river/article1689578/ | work=The Globe and Mail | title=Elevated levels of toxins found in Athabasca River| date= August 23, 2012}}</ref>

In 2021, another independent research was conducted on the [[streamflow]] and climate data sets for the Athabasca River Basin showing the [[seasonality]] of the streamflow and precipitation time series via wavelet analysis.<ref name="EG-JHRS">{{Cite journal|last1=Ghaderpour|first1=E.|last2=Vujadinovic|first2=T.|last3=Hassan|first3=Q. K.|date=2021|title=Application of the Least-Squares Wavelet software in hydrology: Athabasca River Basin|journal=Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies|language=en|volume=36|article-number=100847|doi=10.1016/j.ejrh.2021.100847|doi-access=free|hdl=11573/1655307|hdl-access=free}}</ref> The seasonal components of these time series were shown to be coherent with phase discrepancy. The mean temperature had been gradually increasing since 1960, and it was projected to increase by approximately 2&nbsp;°C during the mid-century, possibly reducing the snowpack volume during the spring.<ref name="EG-JHRS"/>

===Coal mine spill===
On October{{nbsp}}31, 2013, a pit at the [[Obed Mountain coal mine spill]]ed, and between 600 million and a billion litres of slurry poured into Plante and Apetowun Creeks.<ref name=vice>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/two-years-later-charges-laid-in-massive-alberta-coal-mine-spill/|title=Two Years Later, Charges Laid in Massive Alberta Coal Mine Spill|first=Meagan|last=Wohlberg|work=[[Vice News]]|date=October 21, 2015|access-date=17 February 2016}}</ref> The plume of waste products then joined the Athabasca River, travelling downstream for a month before settling in Lake Athabasca near Fort Chipewyan, over {{convert|500|km|mi|abbr=on}} away.<ref name=vice />

==Heritage==
The river was designated a [[Canadian heritage river]] for its importance to the fur trade and the construction of railways and roads opening up the [[Western Canada|Canadian West]], as well as for its natural heritage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chrs.ca/Rivers/Athabasca/Athabasca_e.htm |author=Canadian Heritage River System |author-link=Canadian Heritage Rivers System |title=Athabasca River |access-date=2006-11-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061008040226/http://www.chrs.ca/Rivers/Athabasca/Athabasca_e.htm |archive-date=8 October 2006 }}</ref> 
{{clear|left}}

The [[Canadian Heraldic Authority]] named the position of [[Athabaska Herald]] after the river.

==Gallery==
<gallery>

Image:GeraldineLakes.jpg|Athabasca River Valley seen from the Geraldine Lakes
Image:Athabasca_Falls_2005-06-11.jpeg|Flowing through the [[Athabasca Falls]]
Image:Jasper, Alberta, Canada, ViewFromSummit RyanShepherd.JPG|Passing by [[Jasper, Alberta|Jasper]]
Image:Athabasca River JNP.JPG|In [[Jasper National Park]]
Image:Athabascafrompyramid.jpg|Athabasca River valley from the Pallisades fire lookout
Image:Athabasca_at_Brule_Lake.jpg|Athabasca River at the mouth of [[Brûlé Lake (Alberta)|Brûlé Lake]]
Image:Banks of the Athabasca (10859000606).jpg|Dr. Karl Clark and guide Romeo Eymundson on the bank of the Athabasca River.
Image:Athabasca at windfall.JPG|Upstream from [[Whitecourt]]
Image:Alberta tar sands.jpg|Bituminous sand banks north of [[Fort McMurray]]
Image:Athabasca River July 2013.jpg|Athabasca River in July, 2013
Image:Athabasca River in Jasper.jpg|Athabasca River in [[Jasper, Alberta|Jasper]]
Image:Athabasca River Plaque.jpg|Plaque overlooking the river in [[Jasper National Park]], 2015
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Geography of Alberta]]
*[[List of Alberta rivers]]
*[[List of longest rivers of Canada]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* http://www.environment.alberta.ca/apps/OSEM/ Athabasca River Conditions and Use, Government of Alberta
* http://www.ramp-alberta.org/river.aspx Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency, RAMP (Regional Aquatics Monitoring Program), Athabasca River Basin
* https://web.archive.org/web/20120414210651/http://www.chrs.ca/Rivers/Athabasca/Athabasca-F_e.php Canadian Heritage Rivers System (CHRS), Athabasca River
* http://arbri.athabascau.ca/About-the-Athabasca-River-basin/Index.php About the Athabasca River Basin, Athabasca River Basin Research Institute
* {{cite journal | pmc=2941314 | pmid=20805486 | doi=10.1073/pnas.1008754107 | volume=107 | title=Oil sands development contributes elements toxic at low concentrations to the Athabasca River and its tributaries | date=September 2010 | journal=Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. | pages=16178–83 | last1 = Kelly | first1 = EN | last2 = Schindler | first2 = DW | last3 = Hodson | first3 = PV | last4 = Short | first4 = JW | last5 = Radmanovich | first5 = R | last6 = Nielsen | first6 = CC| issue=37 | bibcode=2010PNAS..10716178K | doi-access=free }}

{{Commons}}
{{Alberta rivers and lakes}}
{{Canadian Heritage Rivers System}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Athabasca, Alberta]]
[[Category:Canadian Heritage Rivers]]
[[Category:Fort McMurray]]
[[Category:Jasper National Park]]
[[Category:Rivers of Alberta]]
[[Category:Whitecourt]]
[[Category:Rivers of the Canadian Rockies]]
[[Category:Lake Athabasca|River, Athabasca]]