Sunwapta River

Sunwapta River
Sunwapta Falls
Basin
Main source	Athabasca Glacier 52°12′30″N 117°14′14″W / 52.20833°N 117.23722°W / 52.20833; -117.23722
Source elevation	2,037 m (6,683 ft)
River mouth	Athabasca River 52°31′41″N 117°41′05″W / 52.52806°N 117.68472°W / 52.52806; -117.68472
Mouth elevation	1,300 m (4,300 ft)
Country	Alberta  Canada

The Sunwapta River is a major tributary of the Athabasca River in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada.

Course

The headwaters of the Sunwapta River are near the Columbia Icefield in the valley west northwest of Sunwapta pass, which divides Jasper National Park from Banff National Park. Several kilometres down the valley from the pass is Sunwapta Lake, at the toe of the Athabasca Glacier, which is considered the nominal source for the river. The Sunwapta river then continues to run northwest through Jasper National Park, following the Icefields Parkway, and finally joins the Athabasca River shortly after Sunwapta Falls.^[1]

Sunwapta is a Stoney Indian word meaning "turbulent river." Geologist A. P. Coleman named the river in 1892.^[2]

Tributaries

• Kitchener Creek
• Tangle Creek
• Woolley Creek
• Beauty Creek
• Diadem Creek
• Grizzly Creek
• Jonas Creek
• Poboktan Creek

• 

  Sunwapta River originates at the toe of the Athabasca Glacier

• 

  Tangle Creek, a tributary of the Sunwapta

See also

• List of rivers of Alberta

References

Hydrography of Alberta Rivers Athabasca Battle Beaver Bow Brazeau Crowsnest Elbow Hay Little Bow Milk North Saskatchewan Oldman Peace Pembina Red Deer Slave Smoky South Saskatchewan Waterfalls Athabasca Bow Bridal Veil Crescent Crypt Elbow Panther Sunwapta Lakes Athabasca Beaverhill Bistcho Claire Cold La Biche Lesser Slave Pigeon Ste. Anne Sylvan Utikuma Wabamun Reservoirs Abraham Barrier Brazeau Chestermere Kananaskis McGregor Minnewanka Glenmore Milk River Ridge Sikome Gleniffer Glaciers Athabasca Bow Columbia Icefield Crowfoot Hector Peyto Saskatchewan Vulture Wapta Waputik Icefield Other Hay-Zama Wetlands Peace–Athabasca Delta Whooping Crane Summer Range (wetlands)