Carrot River (Saskatchewan)

Carrot River
Highway 23 bridge over the Carrot River during the 2006 flood near the town of Carrot River
Map of the Saskatchewan River drainage basin
Location of the mouth of the Carrot River in Manitoba Show map of Manitoba Carrot River (Saskatchewan) (Canada) Show map of Canada
Location
Country	Canada
Physical characteristics
Source	Wakaw Lake
• location	RM of Hoodoo No. 401, Saskatchewan
• coordinates	52°43′02″N 105°31′13″W / 52.7173°N 105.5204°W / 52.7173; -105.5204
• elevation	538 m (1,765 ft)[1]
Mouth	Saskatchewan River, near The Pas, Manitoba
• location	RM of Kelsey, Manitoba
• coordinates	53°50′02″N 101°18′17″W / 53.83389°N 101.30472°W / 53.83389; -101.30472
• elevation	264 m (866 ft)
Basin size	17,500 km2 (6,800 sq mi)
Basin features
River system	Nelson River
Tributaries
• left	Sandhill Creek Little Bridge Creek Sipanok Channel Birch River
• right	McCloy Creek Goosehunting Creek Melfort Creek Leather River Jordan River Papikwan River Rice River Nitenal River
Waterbodies	Tway Lake Dickson (also spelt Dixon) Lake Struthers Lake Saskatchewan River Delta

Carrot River^[2] is a river in Western Canada in the north-eastern part Saskatchewan and the north-western part of Manitoba. The outlet of Wakaw Lake in Saskatchewan marks the beginning of the Carrot River and, from there, it flows north-east past several communities and Indian reserves until it joins the Saskatchewan River in the Cumberland Delta in Manitoba. The river's mouth is west and upstream of the Pasquia River and The Pas on the Saskatchewan River.^[3]

Historically, Carrot River has been important to local First Nations, early explorers, fur traders, and settlers. Along the river's course and within its watershed, there are National Wildlife Areas, migratory bird sanctuaries, recreational parks, and notable fossil discoveries. Multiple major highways cross the river and provide access to it. The watershed is home to over 25,500 people and covers an area of about 17,500 km² (6,800 sq mi), of which nearly 15,750 km² (6,080 sq mi) is in Saskatchewan.^[4] The south-west part of Carrot River's watershed is made up of a terminal basin called Lenore Lake Basin that, while not directly connected to Carrot River, is considered part of its watershed.