Lesser Slave River is a river 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...

, Canada. It is a major tributary 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 Lesser Slave Lake and the river were the main links to the Peace River district until the beginning of the 20th century, when the construction of the Northern Alberta Railway facilitated transportation in the area.

Course

The river originates from the 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...

 at the town of Slave Lake

Slave Lake, Alberta

Slave Lake is a town in northern Alberta, Canada, in the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124. It is located on the southeast shore of Lesser Slave Lake at the junction of Highway 2 and Highway 88....

. The average discharge at the mouth of the lake is 20 m³/s. It flows eastwards for 61 km, and merges with the Athabasca River

Athabasca River

The Athabasca River originates from the Columbia Glacier of the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada...

 at the village of Smith

Smith, Alberta

Smith is a hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada within the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124. It is located on Highway 2A, approximately northwest of Edmonton, at the confluence of the Lesser Slave River and the Athabasca River.- History :...

. From its headwaters of South Heart River, it has a total length of more than 280 km.

Tributaries

Through 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...

• Assineau River
  Assineau River
  The Assineau River is a short river forming in central Alberta. The Assineau flows into Lesser Slave Lake, which flows out through the Lesser Slave River, a major tributary of the Athabasca River. The name for the river was in use by 1904...
  
  
• Driftpile River
  Driftpile River
  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...
  
  
  • Little Driftpile River
• Heart River
  Heart River (Alberta)
  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.-Course:...
  
  
  • East Prairie River, West Prairie River, North Heart River
• Marten River
  Marten River
  See also Marten River, OntarioThe Marten River is a short river in central Alberta. The Marten is one of the major inflows of Lesser Slave Lake, which drains through the Lesser Slave River, a major tributary of the Athabasca River. Significant debate exists regarding the origin of the river's name...
  
  
• Swan River
  • Inverness River, Moosehorn River

Downstream of 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...

• Sawridge Creek
• Eating Creek
• Mitsue Creek
  • Mitsue Lake, Florida Creek
• Muskeg Creek
• Otauwau River
• Salteux River
• Driftwood River
  • Fawcett River