Rosebud River
Encyclopedia
Rosebud River is a river
in Alberta
, Canada
. It is a major tributary
of the Red Deer River
. The river passes through agricultural
lands and ranchland for most of its course, and through badlands
in its final reaches. It provides water for irrigation canals through a variety of dams built on its course and that of its tributaries.
The name is a translation of the Blackfoot
word Akokiniskway, meaning "the river of many roses".
, at an elevation of 1905 metres (6,250 ft), west of Carstairs
. It flows north and has a dam before it is crossed by Highway 582 and the Canadian Pacific Railway
tracks. It receives the waters of Copeley Lake, then turns south through Didsbury
, where it is crossed again by Highway 582 and Highway 2A. It then flows in a general south-eastern direction and is crossed by Highway 2 and Highway 581. It continues south-east and is crossed by Highway 72 and Highway 9 north of Irricana
and south of Beiseker
. It then continues eastwards and flows into southern Alberta
, where it is crossed by Highway 21 and Highway 840 at the hamlet of Rosebud
. The river then turns north-east, and its course is followed by the Canadian National Railway
tracks as it is crossed by Highway 841. After reaching the hamlet of Wayne
, it is also followed by Highway 10X through a badlands
canyon that reaches 150 metres (492.1 ft) in depth. Eleven bridges cross the river back and forth through the badlands canyon. Rosebud River empties into the Red Deer River
at Rosedale
, at an elevation of 675 metres (2,214.6 ft).
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
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...
, 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
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Red Deer River
Red Deer River
The Red Deer River is a river in Alberta, Canada. It is a major tributary of the South Saskatchewan River.Red Deer River has a total length of and a drainage area of...
. The river passes through agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
lands and ranchland for most of its course, and through badlands
Badlands
A badlands is a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water. It can resemble malpaís, a terrain of volcanic rock. Canyons, ravines, gullies, hoodoos and other such geological forms are common in badlands. They are often...
in its final reaches. It provides water for irrigation canals through a variety of dams built on its course and that of its tributaries.
The name is a translation of the Blackfoot
Blackfoot
The Blackfoot Confederacy or Niitsítapi is the collective name of three First Nations in Alberta and one Native American tribe in Montana....
word Akokiniskway, meaning "the river of many roses".
Course
The Rosebud River originates in central AlbertaCentral Alberta
Central Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta.Central Alberta is the most densely populated rural area in the province...
, at an elevation of 1905 metres (6,250 ft), west of Carstairs
Carstairs, Alberta
Carstairs is a town in central Alberta, Canada. It is located on Highway 2A, south of the provincial capital, Edmonton, and north of Calgary, the nearest major city. The closest neighbouring communities are the towns of Didsbury and Crossfield...
. It flows north and has a dam before it is crossed by Highway 582 and the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
tracks. It receives the waters of Copeley Lake, then turns south through Didsbury
Didsbury, Alberta
Didsbury is a town in central Alberta, Canada, at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.Located next to Alberta Highway 2A, near the Queen Elizabeth II Highway, Didsbury is within the Calgary-Edmonton corridor. Didsbury is approximately the half-way point between the cities of Calgary and Red...
, where it is crossed again by Highway 582 and Highway 2A. It then flows in a general south-eastern direction and is crossed by Highway 2 and Highway 581. It continues south-east and is crossed by Highway 72 and Highway 9 north of Irricana
Irricana, Alberta
Irricana is a town in southern Alberta, Canada. It is located in the wide-open spaces of the Canadian prairies, northeast of Calgary, and west of the Drumheller badlands off Highway 9....
and south of Beiseker
Beiseker, Alberta
Beiseker is a village in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is approximately northeast of Calgary. It is considered to be an outermost part of the Calgary Region and is included within Calgary's Census Metropolitan Area...
. It then continues eastwards and flows into southern Alberta
Southern Alberta
Southern Alberta is a region located in the Canadian province of Alberta. As of the year 2004, the region's population was approximately 272,017. The primary cities are Lethbridge and Medicine Hat...
, where it is crossed by Highway 21 and Highway 840 at the hamlet of Rosebud
Rosebud, Alberta
Rosebud, Alberta is a hamlet in southern Alberta, Canada within Wheatland County. It is located on Highway 840, approximately northeast of Calgary and southwest of Drumheller...
. The river then turns north-east, and its course is followed by the Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
tracks as it is crossed by Highway 841. After reaching the hamlet of Wayne
Wayne, Alberta
Wayne was an unincorporated community in southern Alberta in Wheatland County, located south of Rosedale on Highway 10X, northeast of Calgary. It is now administered by the town of Drumheller....
, it is also followed by Highway 10X through a badlands
Badlands
A badlands is a type of dry terrain where softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils have been extensively eroded by wind and water. It can resemble malpaís, a terrain of volcanic rock. Canyons, ravines, gullies, hoodoos and other such geological forms are common in badlands. They are often...
canyon that reaches 150 metres (492.1 ft) in depth. Eleven bridges cross the river back and forth through the badlands canyon. Rosebud River empties into the Red Deer River
Red Deer River
The Red Deer River is a river in Alberta, Canada. It is a major tributary of the South Saskatchewan River.Red Deer River has a total length of and a drainage area of...
at Rosedale
Rosedale, Alberta
Rosedale is a community in southern Alberta, located on Highway 56, northeast of Calgary, at the confluence of Rosebud River and Red Deer River....
, at an elevation of 675 metres (2,214.6 ft).
Tributaries and crossings
From origin to mouth, the Rosebud River receives the following tributaries or passes through these geographic features:| Tributary or feature | Location | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | 51.59329°N 114.18531°W | |
| Highway 582 | 51.66398°N 114.19809°W | Bridge |
| Canadian Pacific Railway Canadian Pacific Railway The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001... |
51.67174°N 114.21205°W | Bridge |
| Copeley Lake | 51.74375°N 114.17283°W | Left tributary |
| Canadian Pacific Railway Canadian Pacific Railway The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001... |
51.69936°N 114.16173°W | Bridge |
| Highway 582 | 51.66302°N 114.11206°W | Bridge |
| Highway 2A | 51.65771°N 114.09606°W | Bridge |
| Highway 2 | 51.59859°N 114.02530°W | tributary |
| Deadrick Creek | 51.57823°N 113.96793°W | Left tributary |
| Highway 581 | 51.56153°N 113.95680°W | Bridge |
| Sheep Coulee | 51.53070°N 113.93357°W | Right tributary |
| Highway 791 | 51.49082°N 113.82614°W | Bridge |
| Carstairs Creek | 51.42627°N 113.74154°W | Right tributary |
| CN Rail Canadian National Railway The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad".... |
51.35297°N 113.58602°W | Bridge |
| Highway 9 | 51.34907°N 113.57265°W | Bridge |
| Crossfield Creek | 51.33508°N 113.57053°W | Right tributary |
| Highway 861 | 51.31721°N 113.24361°W | Bridge |
| Atusis Creek | 51.31321°N 113.05515°W | Left tributary |
| Serviceberry Creek | 51.29105°N 113.01992°W | Right tributary |
| Redland Redland, Alberta Redland is an unincorporated community in Alberta, Canada within Wheatland County that is recognized as a designated place by Statistics Canada. It is located on Range Road 222A, west of Highway 840.- Demographics :... |
51.29173°N 113.01005°W | Flows by community |
| Rosebud Rosebud, Alberta Rosebud, Alberta is a hamlet in southern Alberta, Canada within Wheatland County. It is located on Highway 840, approximately northeast of Calgary and southwest of Drumheller... |
51.29950°N 112.95040°W | Flows by community |
| Severn Creek | 51.29729°N 112.94908°W | Right tributary |
| Home Coulee | 51.37890°N 112.65848°W | Right tributary |
| Wayne Wayne, Alberta Wayne was an unincorporated community in southern Alberta in Wheatland County, located south of Rosedale on Highway 10X, northeast of Calgary. It is now administered by the town of Drumheller.... |
51.38138°N 112.66042°W | Flows through community |
| Red Deer River Red Deer River The Red Deer River is a river in Alberta, Canada. It is a major tributary of the South Saskatchewan River.Red Deer River has a total length of and a drainage area of... |
51.42072°N 112.62979°W | River mouth |