SASICATCWAWAN, a large. important, and only recently explored river of British North America, draws its waters from the Rocky mountains, and is formed by two head•waters called the south branch or Bow river, and the north branch. The south branch issues from a lake about 4 m. long, fed by a glacier descending from a mag nificent mer de glace, and by a group of springs in the vicinity. A few yards n. of this group of springs is another group, from which the north branch takes its rise. The height above the sea is 6,347 ft.: the lat., 51° 40' n.; the long., 117° 30' west. The south branch flows s.e. to its junction with the Belly river in long. 111° 40' w., then n.e. to its junction with the north branch in long. 105'-west. Fed mainly from the sante glacier that feeds the south branch, the north branch flows n. past Mt. Murchi son, 15,159 ft. above sea-level, and one of the highest peaks of the Rocky mountains, n. through Kutanie plain, a fine prairie abounding in game, and then flows in a general
eastern direction to its confluence with the south branch. From long. 105' w., the ricer flows e., and falls into lake Winnipeg. Length of main river, 200 in.; of branch, over 550 miles. Front its mouth it is navigable (on the north branch) about two thirds of its entire length. It tiou'vs through n country rich in coal and iron, with a healthy climate, and comprising almost boundless plains suited to the cultivation crf grain. At the sources of the Saskatchawan, there are several easily practicable routes across the Rocky mountains, especially the Vermilion pass. nal cf the Geograph ical Society for 1860; earl of Southesk's Saskatchawan (1875). See NELSON BAYED,.