Muskwa River
Encyclopedia
The Muskwa River flows 257 km through northern British Columbia
, Canada
. It is a major tributary of the Fort Nelson River
- part of the Mackenzie River
system. The river rises at Fern Lake in the Bedaux Pass in the Northern Rocky Mountains
. From there, it flows generally east, then north, and then east again to meet with the Fort Nelson River just east of the town of Fort Nelson
. The river drops approximately 1100 metres, its course taking it down the Rocky Mountain foothills through sub-alpine and boreal forest to meander across the forest and muskeg
s of the vast Liard
plains. From mouth to headwater, prominent tributaries include the Prophet River
, Tuchodi River, and Gathto Creek. Much of the upper portions of this wilderness river and its watershed
are located in the Northern Rocky Mountains Provincial Park
, which is part of the larger Muskwa-Kechika Management Area. The region is a popular wilderness recreation destination.
A geological unit, the Muskwa Formation
, was named for this river, as are the Muskwa Ranges
, which is the name for the subgroup of the Rocky Mountains between the Peace
and Liard River
s.
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is a major tributary of the Fort Nelson River
Fort Nelson River
The Fort Nelson River is located in north-eastern British Columbia, Canada. It flows 517 km generally north-westward to the Liard River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River, which empties into the Arctic Ocean...
- part of the Mackenzie River
Mackenzie River
The Mackenzie River is the largest river system in Canada. It flows through a vast, isolated region of forest and tundra entirely within the country's Northwest Territories, although its many tributaries reach into four other Canadian provinces and territories...
system. The river rises at Fern Lake in the Bedaux Pass in the Northern Rocky Mountains
Canadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, extending from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA...
. From there, it flows generally east, then north, and then east again to meet with the Fort Nelson River just east of the town of Fort Nelson
Fort Nelson, British Columbia
Fort Nelson is a town of approximately 5000 residents in British Columbia's northeastern corner. It is the administrative centre of the newly formed Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, a first for BC. The majority of Fort Nelson's economic activities have historically been concentrated in the...
. The river drops approximately 1100 metres, its course taking it down the Rocky Mountain foothills through sub-alpine and boreal forest to meander across the forest and muskeg
Muskeg
Muskeg is an acidic soil type common in Arctic and boreal areas, although it is found in other northern climates as well. Muskeg is approximately synonymous with bogland but muskeg is the standard term in Western Canada and Alaska, while 'bog' is common elsewhere. The term is of Cree origin, maskek...
s of the vast Liard
Liard River
The Liard River flows through Yukon, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, Canada. Rising in the Saint Cyr Range of the Pelly Mountains in southeastern Yukon, it flows southeast through British Columbia, marking the northern end of the Rocky Mountains and then curving northeast back...
plains. From mouth to headwater, prominent tributaries include the Prophet River
Prophet River
Prophet River is a river in northern British Columbia, Canada. It is a tributary of the Muskwa River.The Prophet River Hotsprings Provincial Park is established on the upper course, and the Prophet River Wayside Provincial Park is located along the middle course of the river...
, Tuchodi River, and Gathto Creek. Much of the upper portions of this wilderness river and its watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
are located in the Northern Rocky Mountains Provincial Park
Northern Rocky Mountains Provincial Park
Northern Rocky Mountains Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada. It is located in the north-eastern part of the province, 90 km north-west from Fort Nelson and it is bordered to the north by the Alaska Highway...
, which is part of the larger Muskwa-Kechika Management Area. The region is a popular wilderness recreation destination.
A geological unit, the Muskwa Formation
Muskwa Formation
The Muskwa Formation is a stratigraphical unit of Frasnian age in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.It takes the name from Muskwa River, and was first described in the Western National Gas Fort Nelson a-95-J/94-J-10 well by F.F. Gray and J.R. Kassube, in 1963.-Lithology:The Muskwa Formation is...
, was named for this river, as are the Muskwa Ranges
Muskwa Ranges
The Muskwa Ranges are a group of mountain ranges in northern British Columbia, Canada. They are part of the Northern Rockies section of the Rocky Mountains and are bounded on their west by the Rocky Mountain Trench and on their east by the Rocky Mountain Foothills...
, which is the name for the subgroup of the Rocky Mountains between the Peace
Peace River (Canada)
The Peace River is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River flows into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie is the 12th longest river in the world,...
and Liard River
Liard River
The Liard River flows through Yukon, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, Canada. Rising in the Saint Cyr Range of the Pelly Mountains in southeastern Yukon, it flows southeast through British Columbia, marking the northern end of the Rocky Mountains and then curving northeast back...
s.
Tributaries
- Fern Lake
- Crehan Creek
- Reimer Creek
- Wenger Creek
- Pentreath Creek
- Varrick Creek
- Kluachesi Creek
- Beckman Creek
- Tuchodi River
- Chlotapecta Creek
- Chischa River
- Tetsa River
- Steamboat Creek
- Kledo Creek
- Raspberry Creek
- Miduski Creek
- Akue Creek
- Pouce Creek
- Prophet RiverProphet RiverProphet River is a river in northern British Columbia, Canada. It is a tributary of the Muskwa River.The Prophet River Hotsprings Provincial Park is established on the upper course, and the Prophet River Wayside Provincial Park is located along the middle course of the river...