Athabasca River

The Athabasca River, 1231 km long, rises in the COLUMBIA ICEFIELD, flows north through Jasper National Park, then northeast past FT MCMURRAY, Alta, to Lake ATHABASCA; it is the southernmost headstream of the MACKENZIE RIVER, and its chief tributaries are the Pembina, Lesser Slave and McLeod rivers. In northeast Alberta, it passes through huge deposits of oil sands containing BITUMEN. Near the river, the oil sands are close to the surface, and outcrops can be seen on its escarpment. Peter POND wintered on the river 1778; and the first freight route to the Rockies followed the Athabasca to Jasper and then by pack horses over ATHABASCA PASS. Goods were later moved by horse north from Edmonton to ATHABASCA LANDING and then by barge along the river. This route fell into disuse when the railway was built from Edmonton to Waterways (1917).

Author JAMES MARSH

Links to Other Sites
Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada
This illustrated Parks Canada website describes the ecology, geography, and history of Wood Buffalo National Park of Canada

The Bishop Who Ate His Boots
This site profiles the exploits of Bishop Isaac O. Stringer and other missionaries who journeyed to the harsh regions of Canada’s Far North. From the Virtual Museum of Canada.

Athabasca
The website for the Town of Athabasca, Alberta. Features links to interesting tourism and history sites.

Athabasca Landing
This online history of Athabasca Landing features an extensive photo collection and other archival data. From Library and Archives Canada.

Athabasca Landing Trail
Provides historical details about the Athabasca Landing Trail, a major 19th century trade route in northern Alberta. From the Atlas of Alberta Railways website.

Historic Trails: St. Albert to Athabasca Landing
A brief history of the historic Athabasca Landing Trail. From Alberta’s Heritage Community Foundation.

Northern River Basins Study
An extensive online report that summarizes research results related to the cumulative impacts of human economic activity on the natural aquatic ecosystems throughout the Peace, Athabasca, and Slave River basins in northern Canada. With maps and charts. A Government of Alberta website.

Archeology In The Oilsands
An article about the history of research into archeological sites in the vicinity of oil sands exploration and development in northern Alberta.