Wapiti River

The Wapiti River /ˈwɑːpɪd/ is a river in eastern British Columbia and western Alberta, Canada. It is a major tributary of the Smoky River, located in the southern area of the Peace River Basin.

Wapiti River
Wapiti River in western Canada
Location
CountryCanada
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationTuck Lake, Wapiti Pass
  coordinates54.44069°N 120.79021°W / 54.44069; -120.79021 (Wapiti River origin)
  elevation1,370 m (4,490 ft)
Mouth 
  location
Smoky River
  coordinates
55.13784°N 118.30152°W / 55.13784; -118.30152 (Wapiti River mouth)
  elevation
485 m (1,591 ft)
Discharge 
  average100 m3/s (3,500 cu ft/s)

Wapiti is named after the Cree word for elk (waapiti).

Course

Wapiti River crossed by Highway 40 south of Grande Prairie

Wapiti River originates as the outflow of Tuck Lake, east of Wapiti Pass, in Wapiti Lake Provincial Park, east-central British Columbia, in the Canadian Rockies. It then runs in a north-eastern direction, crosses into Alberta, where it becomes more meandered as it continues through the County of Grande Prairie No. 1. It merges into the Smoky River 30 kilometres (19 mi) east of Grande Prairie.

From west to east, Wapiti River flows through the alpine environment of the Rocky Mountains, the rolling foothills, then farmlands and aspen parkland in western Alberta. Wapiti Lake Provincial Park, Bear River Park, O'Brien Provincial Park and Pipestone Creek Park[1] are protected areas along the river.

Close to its mouth, Wapiti has an average discharge of 100 cubic metres per second (3,500 cu ft/s).[2]

Tributaries and crossings

Tributary/Crossing Location Remarks
Tuck Lake54.44069°N 120.79021°W / 54.44069; -120.79021 (Tuck Lake)Originates from Tuck Lake in Wapiti Pass
Wapiti Lake54.56148°N 120.77831°W / 54.56148; -120.77831 (Wapiti Lake west)Flows into Wapiti Lake
Wapiti Lake54.58420°N 120.75794°W / 54.58420; -120.75794 (Wapiti Lake east)Flows from Wapiti Lake
Wapiti Lake Provincial Park54.59638°N 120.73880°W / 54.59638; -120.73880 (Wapiti Lake Provincial Park)Leaves Park
Fearless Creek54.73646°N 120.51058°W / 54.73646; -120.51058 (Fearless Creek)Left tributary, also waters of Dokken Creek
Calliou Creek54.74127°N 120.45839°W / 54.74127; -120.45839 (Calliou Creek)Left tributary
Red Deer Creek54.68386°N 120.24966°W / 54.68386; -120.24966 (Red Deer Creek)Right tributary
Belcourt Creek54.68479°N 120.10373°W / 54.68479; -120.10373 (Belcourt Creek)Right tributary
Mistanusk Creek54.70038°N 120.06016°W / 54.70038; -120.06016 (Mistanusk Creek)Right tributary, from Boundary Lake
Alberta/British Columbia54.73684°N 120.00109°W / 54.73684; -120.00109 (Province Border)Crosses into the province of Alberta
Chinook Creek54.72715°N 119.94752°W / 54.72715; -119.94752 (Chinook Creek)Right tributary, from Chinook Ridge
Narraway River54.73503°N 119.92292°W / 54.73503; -119.92292 (Narraway River)Right tributary
Lingrell Creek54.77732°N 119.84333°W / 54.77732; -119.84333 (Lingrell Creek)Right tributary, from Lingrell Lake
Nose Creek54.86847°N 119.63802°W / 54.86847; -119.63802 (Nose Creek)Right tributary
Calahoo Creek54.91894°N 119.68454°W / 54.91894; -119.68454 (Calahoo Creek)Left tributary
Smith Creek54.95758°N 119.60497°W / 54.95758; -119.60497 (Smith Creek)Left tributary
Pinto Creek54.97542°N 119.45228°W / 54.97542; -119.45228 (Pinto Creek)Right tributary
West Iroquois Creek55.00271°N 119.37504°W / 55.00271; -119.37504 (West Iroquois Creek)Right tributary
Iroquois Creek55.02108°N 119.31770°W / 55.02108; -119.31770 (Iroquois Creek)Right tributary
Redwillow River55.03241°N 119.30971°W / 55.03241; -119.30971 (Redwillow River)Left tributary, carries waters from Beaverlodge River as well
Pipestone Creek55.04614°N 119.10261°W / 55.04614; -119.10261 (Pipestone Creek)Left tributary
Spring Creek55.07790°N 118.94005°W / 55.07790; -118.94005 (Spring Creek)Left tributary
Highway 4055.07206°N 118.80483°W / 55.07206; -118.80483 (Highway 40)Crossed by road bridge
Big Mountain Creek55.05953°N 118.66093°W / 55.05953; -118.66093 (Big Mountain Creek)Right tributary
Canadian National Railway55.07215°N 118.62247°W / 55.07215; -118.62247 (CN)Crossed by railway bridge
Bear River55.10725°N 118.48549°W / 55.10725; -118.48549 (Bear River)Left tributary
Smoky River55.13784°N 118.30152°W / 55.13784; -118.30152 (Smoky River)Empties into the Smoky River as left tributary

See also

References

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