Peace River

Peace River
Peace River Valley in BC
Map of the Peace River watershed in western Canada
EtymologyPeace Point, Alberta, where a treaty marking the river as the boundary between Beaver and Cree was signed in 1781
Native name
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia, Alberta
CitiesFort Saint John, British Columbia, Peace River, Alberta
Physical characteristics
SourceFinlay River
 • locationThutade Lake, British Columbia
 • coordinates57°04′29″N 126°53′36″W / 57.07472°N 126.89333°W / 57.07472; -126.89333
 • elevation1,140 m (3,740 ft)
2nd sourceParsnip River
 • locationNear Mount Barton, British Columbia
 • coordinates54°30′02″N 121°26′26″W / 54.50056°N 121.44056°W / 54.50056; -121.44056
 • elevation1,716 m (5,630 ft)
Source confluenceWilliston Lake
 • coordinates55°59′21″N 123°50′08″W / 55.98917°N 123.83556°W / 55.98917; -123.83556
 • elevation748 m (2,454 ft)(Elevation of Williston Lake)
MouthSlave River
 • location
Confluence of Peace with Athabasca River, Alberta
 • coordinates
59°00′01″N 111°24′38″W / 59.00028°N 111.41056°W / 59.00028; -111.41056
Length1,923 km (1,195 mi)
Basin size306,000 km2 (118,000 sq mi)[2]
Discharge 
 • locationPeace Point, Alberta[3]
 • average2,110 m3/s (75,000 cu ft/s)[3]
 • minimum344 m3/s (12,100 cu ft/s)
 • maximum9,790 m3/s (346,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
River systemMackenzie River watershed
Tributaries 
 • leftFinlay River, Halfway River, Beatton River, Clear River (Alberta), Ponton River
 • rightParsnip River, Pine River, Kiskatinaw River, Pouce Coupé River, Smoky River, Wabasca River, Mikkwa River

The Peace River (French: rivière de la Paix) is a 1,923-kilometre-long (1,195 mi) river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River joins the Athabasca River in the Peace-Athabasca Delta to form the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Finlay River, the main headwater of the Peace River, is regarded as the ultimate source of the Mackenzie River. The combined Finlay–Peace–Slave–Mackenzie river system is the 13th longest river system in the world.

  1. ^ David W., Leonard. "Peace River". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  2. ^ Bennett, R.M.; Card, J.R.; Hornby, D.M. (1973-03-09). "Hydrology of Lake Athabasca: Past, Present and Future" (PDF). Hydrological Sciences Bulletin, XVIII. International Association of Hydrological Science. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-16. Retrieved 2010-10-08.
  3. ^ a b "Peace River at Peace Point". R-ArcticNet. 1959–2000. Retrieved 2010-10-08.