Driftpile River
Encyclopedia
The Driftpile River is a medium-length river
forming in central Alberta
. The Drifpile flows into Lesser Slave Lake
, which flows out through the Lesser Slave River
, a major tributary
of the Athabasca River
. The Geological Survey of Canada was using the name Driftpile by 1892. The river was named because of the large amount of driftwood
that collected at the river's mouth.
The river
forms in Swan Hills region of central Alberta
and heads north towards Lesser Slave Lake
. The Driftpile's main tributary
is the Little Driftpile River. The river is bridged by Alberta Highway 2 and flows past the hamlet
of Driftpile, Alberta
, as well as the Driftpile River First Nation Indian Reserve
.
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...
forming 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...
. The Drifpile flows into Lesser Slave Lake
Lesser Slave Lake
Lesser Slave Lake is a lake located in central Alberta, Canada, northwest of Edmonton. It is the second largest lake entirely within Alberta boundaries , covering and measuring over long and at its widest point. Lesser Slave Lake averages in depth and is at its deepest...
, which flows out through the Lesser Slave River
Lesser Slave River
Lesser Slave River is a river in central Alberta, Canada. It is a major tributary of the Athabasca River....
, 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 Athabasca River
Athabasca River
The Athabasca River originates from the Columbia Glacier of the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada...
. The Geological Survey of Canada was using the name Driftpile by 1892. The river was named because of the large amount of driftwood
Driftwood
Driftwood is wood that has been washed onto a shore or beach of a sea or river by the action of winds, tides, waves or man. It is a form of marine debris or tidewrack....
that collected at the river's mouth.
The river
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...
forms in Swan Hills region of 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...
and heads north towards Lesser Slave Lake
Lesser Slave Lake
Lesser Slave Lake is a lake located in central Alberta, Canada, northwest of Edmonton. It is the second largest lake entirely within Alberta boundaries , covering and measuring over long and at its widest point. Lesser Slave Lake averages in depth and is at its deepest...
. The Driftpile's main 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...
is the Little Driftpile River. The river is bridged by Alberta Highway 2 and flows past the hamlet
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
of Driftpile, Alberta
Driftpile, Alberta
Driftpile is a settlement in Drift Pile River 150, in northern Alberta, located on Highway 2, west of Grande Prairie....
, as well as the Driftpile River First Nation 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...
.