Heart River (Alberta)
Encyclopedia
Heart River is a river in northern Alberta
, Canada
. It is a major tributary of the Peace River
.
The motto of the village of Nampa, Alberta
is A Place close to the Heart, a reference to the river flowing through the community.
in Alberta
, at an elevation of 745 metres (2,444.2 ft). It flows north through an unnamed lake, then turns westwards as it heads through Harmon Valley Park. It receives the waters from the Harmon Valley Creek as it passes by the settlement of Harmon Valley
, then turns south. Up until this point, it is the North Heart River as differentiated from the South Heart River. It receives the waters of Bearhead Creek (also carrying waters from the Benjamin Creek from the east), then turns again westward. It is paralleled by the Mackenzie Northern Railway
as it passes by the hamlet of Reno
and through the village of Nampa
. Heart River then receives Myrtle Creek, which is flowing north just east of the village of Nampa. It is crossed by Highway 2, then continues westwards by the hamlet of Marie-Reine, then turns north and flows through a 150 metres (492.1 ft) deep canyon through the Greene Valley Provincial Park
. It then empties in the Peace River
, immediately downstream from the Smoky River
mouth, at an elevation of 320 metres (1,049.9 ft), within the Peace River
town limits.
Heart River drains an area of approximately 1,804 km2. The watershed can be categorized into three major sub-basins: the North Heart River whose drainage area is about 830 km2; Bearhead Creek including Benjamin Creek whose drainage area is about 773 km2 and Myrtle Creek including the Nampa South Drainage Project whose drainage area is 201 km2.
Northern Alberta
Northern Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta.Its primary industry is oil and gas, with large heavy oil reserves being exploited at the Athabasca Oil Sands and Wabasca Area in the east of the region...
, 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 Peace River
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,...
.
The motto of the village of Nampa, Alberta
Nampa, Alberta
Nampa is a village in northwestern Alberta located 27 km south of the Town of Peace River, along Highway 2. Heart River crosses the Highway 2 just north of community...
is A Place close to the Heart, a reference to the river flowing through the community.
Course
The Heart River originates in Northern Sunrise CountyNorthern Sunrise County, Alberta
Northern Sunrise County is a municipal district in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located in Census Division 17.On July 10, 2002, the name changed from Municipal District of East Peace No. 131 to Northern Sunrise County...
in Alberta
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...
, at an elevation of 745 metres (2,444.2 ft). It flows north through an unnamed lake, then turns westwards as it heads through Harmon Valley Park. It receives the waters from the Harmon Valley Creek as it passes by the settlement of Harmon Valley
Harmon Valley, Alberta
Harmon Valley is an unincorporated community in northern Alberta, Canada.The community was named for Daniel Harmon, a fur trader.The Harmon Valley Fair Grounds is hosts to the Harmon Valley Quad Rally.- Administration :...
, then turns south. Up until this point, it is the North Heart River as differentiated from the South Heart River. It receives the waters of Bearhead Creek (also carrying waters from the Benjamin Creek from the east), then turns again westward. It is paralleled by the Mackenzie Northern Railway
Mackenzie Northern Railway
The Mackenzie Northern Railway was a Canadian railway operating in Alberta and the Northwest Territories. It is the northernmost trackage of the contiguous North American railway network.-History:...
as it passes by the hamlet of Reno
Reno, Alberta
Reno is a hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada within Northern Sunrise County. It is located east of Highway 2, approximately northeast of Grande Prairie.- Demographics :...
and through the village of Nampa
Nampa, Alberta
Nampa is a village in northwestern Alberta located 27 km south of the Town of Peace River, along Highway 2. Heart River crosses the Highway 2 just north of community...
. Heart River then receives Myrtle Creek, which is flowing north just east of the village of Nampa. It is crossed by Highway 2, then continues westwards by the hamlet of Marie-Reine, then turns north and flows through a 150 metres (492.1 ft) deep canyon through the Greene Valley Provincial Park
Greene Valley Provincial Park
Greene Valley Provincial Park is a provincial park east of the Town of Peace River Alberta in the Northern Sunrise County. It was designated by the Provincial Government a provincial park on June 6, 2000....
. It then empties in the Peace River
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,...
, immediately downstream from the Smoky River
Smoky River
Smoky River is a river in western Alberta, Canada. It is a major tributary of the Peace River. The descriptive name refers to the presence of "smouldering beds of coal in the riverbank" noted by the Cree Indians....
mouth, at an elevation of 320 metres (1,049.9 ft), within the Peace River
Peace River, Alberta
Peace River is a town in northwestern Alberta, Canada, situated along the banks of the Peace River, at its confluence with the Smoky River, the Heart River and Pat's Creek. It is located northwest of Edmonton, and northeast of Grande Prairie, along Highway 2. The Peace River townsite is nearly ...
town limits.
Heart River drains an area of approximately 1,804 km2. The watershed can be categorized into three major sub-basins: the North Heart River whose drainage area is about 830 km2; Bearhead Creek including Benjamin Creek whose drainage area is about 773 km2 and Myrtle Creek including the Nampa South Drainage Project whose drainage area is 201 km2.