Saskatchewan Glacier

Saskatchewan Glacier is one of the main outlet glaciers of the Columbia Icefield, located in the Rocky Mountains of Canada. It is the largest glacier on the icefield, covering approximately 23 square miles (60 square km). The meltwaters from Saskatchewan Glacier flow into the Saskatchewan River, which eventually drains into Hudson Bay.1

While the Athabasca Glacier is more accessible from the highway, Saskatchewan Glacier offers easier access to the higher zones of the icefield due to its more gently rising surface. Ice depths in this glacier have been measured up to 1,450 feet (442 meters). Research on the glacier includes studies of its flow, accumulation, ablation, internal structures, and thermal measurements. Like many glaciers in the region, Saskatchewan Glacier has experienced recession, particularly in recent decades, linked to global warming.1