Blindman River
Encyclopedia
The Blindman River is a medium-sized river
in central Alberta
. It forms south of Winfield, Alberta
and flows southeastward before joining the Red Deer River
near Red Deer
. The Blindman is bridged by Alberta Highway 20 a number of times in its upper reaches, before passing near the town of Rimbey. The river then takes on the outflow of Gull Lake
before flowing into the Red Deer
.
Two competing theories
exist regarding the name of the river. One theory suggests a Cree
hunting party
became snowblind
while traveling and had to rest on the river banks until their eyes healed. The hunting party applied the name pas-ka-poo to the river, which translates as Blindman. The Paskapoo Formation
, first described in its banks, takes its name from the river. The second theory argues Blindman is a descriptive term, applied to the river because of its numerous meanders and curves.
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 central 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...
. It forms south of Winfield, Alberta
Winfield, Alberta
Winfield is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within the County of Wetaskiwin No. 10. It is located at the intersection of Highway 13 and Highway 20, approximately west of Wetaskiwin.- Climate :- External links :* - from Alberta Municipal Affairs and Housing...
and flows southeastward before joining 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...
near Red Deer
Red Deer, Alberta
Red Deer is a city in Central Alberta, Canada. It is located near the midpoint of the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor and is surrounded by Red Deer County. It is Alberta's third-most-populous city – after Calgary and Edmonton. The city is located in aspen parkland, a region of rolling hills...
. The Blindman is bridged by Alberta Highway 20 a number of times in its upper reaches, before passing near the town of Rimbey. The river then takes on the outflow of Gull Lake
Gull Lake (Alberta)
Gull Lake is a large lake in central Alberta, Canada. It is a popular recreational lake with its southern shores boasting large sandy beaches. Gull Lake is centrally located between Edmonton and Calgary and lies in two counties, Ponoka County and Lacombe County...
before flowing into the Red Deer
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...
.
Theory
The English word theory was derived from a technical term in Ancient Greek philosophy. The word theoria, , meant "a looking at, viewing, beholding", and referring to contemplation or speculation, as opposed to action...
exist regarding the name of the river. One theory suggests a Cree
Cree
The Cree are one of the largest groups of First Nations / Native Americans in North America, with 200,000 members living in Canada. In Canada, the major proportion of Cree live north and west of Lake Superior, in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, although...
hunting party
Hunting party
*in paleolithic society, a 'natural' clique structure optimized for game hunting, see also bachelor band.*any group of people engaging in sport hunting*Hunting Party *Hunting Party Game...
became snowblind
Snow blindness
Photokeratitis or ultraviolet keratitis is a painful eye condition caused by exposure of insufficiently protected eyes to the ultraviolet rays from either natural or artificial sources. Photokeratitis is akin to a sunburn of the cornea and conjunctiva, and is not usually noticed until several...
while traveling and had to rest on the river banks until their eyes healed. The hunting party applied the name pas-ka-poo to the river, which translates as Blindman. The Paskapoo Formation
Paskapoo Formation
The Paskapoo Formation is a stratigraphical unit of Paleocene age in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin.It takes the name from the Blindman River , and was first described in outcrops along the river, north of Red Deer by J. B...
, first described in its banks, takes its name from the river. The second theory argues Blindman is a descriptive term, applied to the river because of its numerous meanders and curves.
Tributaries
- Anderson Creek
- Lloyd Creek
- Boyd Creek
- Potter Creek
- Gull LakeGull Lake (Alberta)Gull Lake is a large lake in central Alberta, Canada. It is a popular recreational lake with its southern shores boasting large sandy beaches. Gull Lake is centrally located between Edmonton and Calgary and lies in two counties, Ponoka County and Lacombe County...
- Anderson Creek