Bow River

Bow River
The Bow River near Banff
Map of the Bow River
Bow River is located in Alberta
Bow River
River's mouth in Alberta
Bow River is located in Canada
Bow River
Bow River (Canada)
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceAlberta
Physical characteristics
SourceBow Lake
 • coordinates51°39′03″N 116°25′12″W / 51.65083°N 116.42000°W / 51.65083; -116.42000
 • elevation1,960 m (6,430 ft)
MouthSouth Saskatchewan River
 • coordinates
49°55′42″N 111°41′12″W / 49.92833°N 111.68667°W / 49.92833; -111.68667
 • elevation
700 m (2,300 ft)
Length587 km (365 mi)
Basin size26,200 km2 (10,100 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • average129 m3/s (4,600 cu ft/s)
 • minimum3 m3/s (110 cu ft/s)
 • maximum1,640 m3/s (58,000 cu ft/s)

The Bow River is a river in Alberta, Canada. It begins within the Canadian Rocky Mountains and winds through the Alberta foothills onto the prairies, where it meets the Oldman River, the two then forming the South Saskatchewan River. These waters ultimately flow through the Nelson River into Hudson Bay.[1] The Bow River runs through the city of Calgary, taking in the Elbow River at the historic site of Fort Calgary near downtown. The Bow River pathway, developed along the river's banks, is considered a part of Calgary's self-image.[2]: 41–2 

First Nations made varied use of the river for sustenance before settlers of European origin arrived, such as using its valleys in the buffalo hunt.[3]: 37–41  The name Bow refers to the reeds that grew along its banks and were used by the First Nations to make bows; the Blackfoot language name for the river is Makhabn, meaning "river where bow reeds grow".[1]

The river is an important source of water for irrigation and drinking water. Between the years 1910 and 1960, the Bow River and its tributaries were engineered to provide hydroelectric power, primarily for Calgary's use. This significantly altered the river's flow and certain ecosystems.[3]: 151 

  1. ^ a b "About the Bow River". Bow Riverkeeper. Archived from the original on May 18, 2010. Retrieved April 9, 2012.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Nelles_2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference river_returns_2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).