Athabasca River

Athabasca River
Athabasca River in Jasper National Park
Athabasca River watershed in western Canada
Location
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Physical characteristics
Source	Columbia Icefield
• location	Jasper National Park
• coordinates	52°10′4″N 117°25′50″W / 52.16778°N 117.43056°W / 52.16778; -117.43056
• elevation	1,520 m (4,990 ft)(foot of glacier)
Mouth	Lake Athabasca
• coordinates	58°37′35″N 110°50′5″W / 58.62639°N 110.83472°W / 58.62639; -110.83472
• elevation	205 m (673 ft)
Length	1,231 km (765 mi)[1]
Basin size	95,300 km2 (36,800 sq mi)[1]
Discharge
• location	Athabasca Delta[2]
• average	783 m3/s (27,700 cu ft/s)[2]
• minimum	75.0 m3/s (2,650 cu ft/s)
• maximum	4,790 m3/s (169,000 cu ft/s)
[3][4]

The Athabasca River (French: Rivière Athabasca) is a river in Alberta, Canada, which originates at the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park and flows more than 1,231 km (765 mi) before emptying into Lake Athabasca.^[5] Much of the land along its banks is protected in national and provincial parks, and the river is designated a Canadian Heritage River for its historical and cultural importance. The scenic Athabasca Falls is located about 30 km (19 mi) upstream from Jasper.