BOW RIVER

river in southern Alberta, Canada, the main headstream of the South Saskatchewan River. It rises in the Canadian Rockies of Banff National Park at the foot of Mount Gordon and flows from the glacial Bow Lake southeastward for 365 miles (587 km). It joins the Oldman River 37 miles (60 km) west of Medicine Hat and thus forms the South Saskatchewan River. The river was so named because the Cree Indians made bows from Douglas firs that grew along its banks. It was explored by the North West Company early in the 19th century. The Bow is important for hydroelectric power and irrigation, with the Bassano and Ghosts dams serving Calgary, the largest settlement in its valley. Bow Valley Provincial Park lies at the junction of the Bow and Kananaskis rivers, 50 miles (80 km) west of Calgary.