Saskatchewan, << sas KACH uh `wahn,` >> River begins in Alberta, Canada. Two branches join to make the stream. The river flows across Alberta and Saskatchewan and part of Manitoba. The North Saskatchewan rises west of Edmonton in glaciers in the Rocky Mountains. The South Saskatchewan is formed by the Bow and Oldman rivers near Grassy Lake. The branches flow east, and join near Prince Albert in Saskatchewan. The river then flows east into Manitoba, and empties into Cedar Lake, which–in turn–empties into Lake Winnipeg.
The branches of the South Saskatchewan are used for irrigation in southern Alberta. Gardiner Dam, near Outlook, Saskatchewan, provides hydroelectric power. Lake Diefenbaker, formed by the dam, is an irrigation source and a recreational facility.
