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Saskatchewan (River of the Northwest)

a river of the Northwest Territories, Canada, formed by two main streams, the South Saskatchewan or South Branch (called also the Bow river) and the North Saskatchewan or North Branch. The sources of these two streams are very near each other on the E. slope of the Rocky mountains. The South Branch flows S. E. to its junction with the Belly river, then N. E. to its junction with the North Branch. The North Branch flows N. past Mount Murchison, through Kutanie plain, then E. to its confluence with the South Branch.

The course of the North Branch is about 836 miles, and of the South Branch, 903 miles. From their junction the river course is through the desert bed of Lake Agassiz, then E. to its mouth in Lake Winnipeg. The total length is about 1,200 miles. From its mouth it is navigable, by the North Branch, about 800 miles. The river is narrow in the greater part of its course.