Swan River is located in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The river, and several other features in the area, are named after the trumpeter swans found in the region.
Description The river is located in the Swan Lake drainage basin. It rises in the northwest corner of the basin in the Porcupine Hills and flows generally south, contained in a large valley two miles (3 km) wide and deep, until it nears Pelly, Saskatchewan. Here it turns northeast, collecting tributary streams off the north escarpment of the Duck Mountains, and terminates at Swan Lake. Slopes on the south escarpment of the Porcupine Hills average . The elevation of the Swan River plain at Norquay, Saskatchewan is above sea level, and at Swan Lake it is 850 feet (260 m) above sea level, with an average slope of .
The Swan River has a drainage area of , a maximum annual discharge of (1922), and a maximum daily discharge of (1995). Major tributaries include Maloneck Creek and Spruce Creek, (which originate in the Swan River plain), and Bear Head Creek, Roaring River, the West and East Favel Rivers, and the Sinclair River, (which originate in the Duck Mountains).
Communities located on the river include Swan River and Lenswood, while those on its tributaries include Norquay (on Spruce Creek), and Minitonas (on the East Favel River). The river's average annual discharge at the town of Swan River is approximately of water.
Surface water quality is generally good to fair. In recent years, total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentration data have shown a decreasing trend.
See also Assiniboine River fur trade#Upper Assiniboine and Swan River fur trade List of rivers of Manitoba List of rivers of Saskatchewan
References