Saskatch'ewan

Saskatch'ewan, a large river of British North America, draws its waters from the Rocky Mountains, and is formed by two head-waters called the South and North Branches. The North Branch rises among the glaciers near Mount Hooker, the South Branch in the very north of Montana. The former has a course of 770, the latter of 810 miles, before they meet at about 105° W. long. and 53° 15' N. lat. The river then flows east 282 miles to Lake Winnipeg, from which its waters are carried to Hudson Bay by the Nelson River (q.v.). Including the Nelson, its total length is 1514 miles; catchment basin, 450,000 sq. m. It is now navigated by steamers from Lake Winnipeg to Edmonton (700 miles); the Nelson is rendered unnavigable by rapids. The upper Saskatchewan drains a rich prairie country; near Medicine Hat it is sunk almost 300 feet below the general surface.—The river gives name to one of the Western Territories, lying between Manitoba and Keewatin, Assiniboia, Alberta, and the parallel 55° N. lat. Both branches of the river traverse the territory, and on their banks are the settlements of Prince Albert, Battleford, &c. Area, 114,000 sq. m.; pop. (1885) 10,746.