Pouce Coupe River

Pouce Coupe River
Pouce Coupe River canyon after the confluence with Saskatoon Creek
Map
Location
CountryCanada
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationSaddle Hills County, Alberta
 • elevation860 m (2,820 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
Peace River
 • coordinates
56°07′54″N 119°54′40″W / 56.13158°N 119.91116°W / 56.13158; -119.91116 (Peace River)
 • elevation
380 m (1,250 ft)

The Pouce Coupe River is a major tributary of the Peace River in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. Its name is officially spelled Pouce Coupé River,[1] but it is commonly written without the acute accent.

Originating in Alberta's Saddle Hills County, it flows into British Columbia's Peace River Regional District, then returns in Alberta in Saddle Hill County, where it empties into the Peace River.

The region of Pouce Coupe Prairie, from which the river and village of Pouce Coupe take their names, was called that for a Beaver Indian Chief named 'Pouscapee'. The first European settler in the region was Hector Tremblay, who built a cabin there in 1898. Tremblay, of French origin, translated 'Pouskapee's Prairie' into the nearest French words of similar sound (pouce coupé, meaning "cut thumb" or "cut-off thumb").

  1. ^ "Pouce Coupé River". Querying Canadian Geographical Names. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 1 May 2014.