The Athabasca river flows North through Jasper National park and eventually makes its way up to the Arctic Ocean. It's a wild river in that it has not been tamed by humanity.
A sandy beach along the shallow Jasper Lake which is just a wide section of the river. These photos were taken on the Second of July, it would never be warm enough to comfortably swim here.
The river starts at the Columbian Icefields and ends two thousand kilometers north at the Mackenzie River Delta. It's the 4th longest undammed river in the world with a total length of 3400 kilometers.
Rivers left to nature attract more wildlife, even if it's next to the highway. There is no industry or agriculture in Jasper National Park so it's just water and minerals. The greenish colour would come from mineral deposits in melting glaciers and the Rocky Mountains.
Most of the river is protected but unfortunately further downstream the river flows through the infamous Tar Sands. After which it becomes polluted.
There's something amazing about rivers that don't flow urban areas or farmland. The water is pure and there is a better feeling in the air.
The name Athabasca is Cree for "Where there are plants one after another." The river eventually makes its way into Lake Athabasca and which empties into the Slave River, which goes to Great Slave Lake and that is drained by the Mackenzie River.
Here we camped along the shores, this photo was taken after 10:00 pm and it was still light outside. Night doesn't come to these parts around the summer equinox, just something called Astronomical Twilight.
Thank you for viewing the Athabasca River with me and have a great weekend.
All photos taken with an s22 and are unfiltered
