Elbow River
Encyclopedia
The Elbow River is a river located in southern Alberta
, Canada
. It flows from the Canadian Rockies
to the city of Calgary
, where it merges into the Bow River
.
The Elbow River is popular among canoers, rafters, campers and hikers and runs through several features including Allen Bill Pond, Forgetmenot Pond, and Elbow Falls
. Trout fishing on the Elbow is fair, but the scenery makes up for the slow fishing. As a mountain stream it lacks the high nutrient levels that support the prolific aquatic bug populations of other fly-fishing destination rivers; however, drop-and-pool sections of the river above Elbow Falls can contain relatively large (up to 35 cm) native cutthroat. Sections of the river are closed to fishing, or are "catch-and-release" waters: check regulations at Alberta Sustainable Resource Development: http://www.albertaregulations.ca/fishingregs/
The water flow of the Elbow River fluctuates significantly, and in June 2005 a flood occurred that was so severe (the heaviest in at least two centuries according to Albertan Government
estimates) that the water flowed over the dam. Approximately 1,500 Calgarians living downstream were evacuated.
The Elbow River originates from Elbow Lake
in the Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park
in the Canadian Rockies
, then continues through the Rocky Mountain foothills and flows into the hamlet of Bragg Creek
. The Elbow River passes under Highway 22 and then travels through the rural community of Springbank
and the Tsuu T'ina Nation 145
Indian reserve
directly west of Calgary. The river enters the City of Calgary at the Weaselhead Flats, an artificial inland delta, and into the Glenmore Reservoir
, one of Calgary's two chief sources of drinking water. From there, it flows northward through residential communities towards the city centre, is crossed by Macleod Trail
, passes the Calgary Stampede
grounds and finally joins the Bow River
west of the Calgary Zoo
.
Fort Calgary
(the North-West Mounted Police post established in 1873 around which settlement in the Calgary area began) was located at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers.
The river has a total length of 120 kilometres (74.6 mi), and drains an area of over 1200 square kilometres (463.3 sq mi). From its origin in the Elbow Pass
at approximately 2100 metres (6,889.8 ft), it drops 1060 metres (3,477.7 ft) at a 1% slope to its mouth at the Bow River
, situated at an altitude of 1040 m (3,412.1 ft).
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, 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 flows from the Canadian Rockies
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...
to the city of Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, where it merges into the Bow River
Bow River
The Bow River is a river in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is a tributary of the South Saskatchewan River, and is considered the headwater of the Nelson River....
.
The Elbow River is popular among canoers, rafters, campers and hikers and runs through several features including Allen Bill Pond, Forgetmenot Pond, and Elbow Falls
Elbow Falls
Elbow Falls is a small set of waterfalls along the Elbow River, west of the hamlet of Bragg Creek within Kananaskis Improvement District, Alberta...
. Trout fishing on the Elbow is fair, but the scenery makes up for the slow fishing. As a mountain stream it lacks the high nutrient levels that support the prolific aquatic bug populations of other fly-fishing destination rivers; however, drop-and-pool sections of the river above Elbow Falls can contain relatively large (up to 35 cm) native cutthroat. Sections of the river are closed to fishing, or are "catch-and-release" waters: check regulations at Alberta Sustainable Resource Development: http://www.albertaregulations.ca/fishingregs/
The water flow of the Elbow River fluctuates significantly, and in June 2005 a flood occurred that was so severe (the heaviest in at least two centuries according to Albertan Government
Politics of Alberta
The politics of Alberta are centred on a provincial government resembling that of the other Canadian provinces, namely a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The capital of the province is Edmonton, where the Lieutenant Governor, Premier, the legislature, and cabinet reside.The...
estimates) that the water flowed over the dam. Approximately 1,500 Calgarians living downstream were evacuated.
Course
Elbow Lake (Alberta)
Elbow Lake is located in the Elbow Pass north of the Highwood pass in Kananaskis Country in Alberta, Canada. It is most easily accessed from Highway 40 at the Elbow Pass day use area. Elbow Lake lies at an elevation of and is the headwater of the Elbow River. There are reports that grizzly bears...
in the Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park
Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park
Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park is a provincial park and wildlife reserve located in the Kananaskis Country in south-western Alberta, Canada.-Activities:...
in the Canadian Rockies
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...
, then continues through the Rocky Mountain foothills and flows into the hamlet of Bragg Creek
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Bragg Creek is a hamlet in southern Alberta under the jurisdiction of Rocky View County in Division No. 6. It is also recognized as a designated place by Statistics Canada....
. The Elbow River passes under Highway 22 and then travels through the rural community of Springbank
Springbank, Alberta
Springbank is a rural community in southern Alberta in Rocky View County. It is located immediately west of the City of Calgary, east of Highway 22, south of the Bow River and north of the rural community of Elbow Valley...
and the Tsuu T'ina Nation 145
Tsuu T'ina Nation 145, Alberta
Tsuu T'ina Nation 145 is the name of an Indian reserve in southern Alberta, Canada. It is the home of the Tsuu T'ina Nation. The reserve was created by Treaty 7. Reserve lands are between Southwest Calgary, Alberta in the east and Bragg Creek, Alberta in the west. The north boundary is just...
Indian reserve
Indian reserve
In Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." The Act also specifies that land reserved for the use and benefit of a band which is not...
directly west of Calgary. The river enters the City of Calgary at the Weaselhead Flats, an artificial inland delta, and into the Glenmore Reservoir
Glenmore Reservoir
The Glenmore Reservoir is a large artificial reservoir on the Elbow River in the southwest quadrant of Calgary, Alberta. The Glenmore Dam is the concrete structure that holds back the reservoir. The reservoir is a primary source of drinking water to the city...
, one of Calgary's two chief sources of drinking water. From there, it flows northward through residential communities towards the city centre, is crossed by Macleod Trail
Macleod Trail (Calgary)
Macleod Trail is a major road in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It is a six to eight lane principal arterial road extending from downtown Calgary to the south of the city, where it merges into Highway 2. South of Anderson Road, Macleod Trail is an expressway and is slated to be upgraded to a freeway in...
, passes the Calgary Stampede
Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The ten-day event, which bills itself as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", attracts over one million visitors per year and features one of the world's largest rodeos, a parade, midway,...
grounds and finally joins the Bow River
Bow River
The Bow River is a river in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is a tributary of the South Saskatchewan River, and is considered the headwater of the Nelson River....
west of the Calgary Zoo
Calgary Zoo
The Calgary Zoo is located in Bridgeland, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, just east of the city's downtown and adjacent to the Inglewood and East Village neighbourhoods. It is accessible via Calgary's C-Train light rail system, by car via Memorial Drive and by bicycle and footpath via the Bow River...
.
Fort Calgary
Fort Calgary
Fort Calgary was established in 1875 as Fort Brisebois by the North-West Mounted Police, located at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers in what is now Calgary, Alberta.-History:...
(the North-West Mounted Police post established in 1873 around which settlement in the Calgary area began) was located at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers.
The river has a total length of 120 kilometres (74.6 mi), and drains an area of over 1200 square kilometres (463.3 sq mi). From its origin in the Elbow Pass
Elbow Pass
Elbow Pass is the mountain pass between the Highwood and Elbow areas in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada. It contains Elbow Lake which is the headwaters of the Elbow River....
at approximately 2100 metres (6,889.8 ft), it drops 1060 metres (3,477.7 ft) at a 1% slope to its mouth at the Bow River
Bow River
The Bow River is a river in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is a tributary of the South Saskatchewan River, and is considered the headwater of the Nelson River....
, situated at an altitude of 1040 m (3,412.1 ft).
Tributaries
- Canyon Creek
- Iron Creek
- Bragg Creek
- Harris Creek
- Primez Creek
- Millburn Creek
- Springbank Creek
- Cullen Creek
- May Creek
- Lott Creek