Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How does the Continental Divide affect drainage in the Canadian Rockies?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Rocky Mountains
Physical features of western North America.
The Continental Divide acts as the primary drainage divide in the Canadian Rockies, serving as a ridge of high summits that separates the continent's water systems.12
In this region, the divide generally follows the border between British Columbia and Alberta, dictating the direction of water flow:13
- Eastward Drainage: Water on the eastern side of the divide flows toward Hudson Bay and the Arctic Ocean, fed by rivers such as the Saskatchewan and Athabaska.13
- Westward Drainage: Water on the western side flows toward the Pacific Ocean, including headstreams for major systems like the Columbia, Fraser, and Kootenay rivers.13
While the divide establishes this fundamental separation, the complex topography of the Rocky Mountain Trench and surrounding ranges also influences the specific paths these river systems take as they move toward their respective oceans.43