Red Deer River

Red Deer River
Red Deer River in Drumheller, Alberta
Country	Canada
Basin features
Main source	Sawback Range, Red Deer Lakes 2,200 m (7,200 ft) 51°31′56″N 116°02′31″W / 51.53221°N 116.04201°W / 51.53221; -116.04201 (Red Deer River origin)
River mouth	South Saskatchewan River near Empress 579 m (1,900 ft) 50°55′23″N 109°53′42″W / 50.92315°N 109.89493°W / 50.92315; -109.89493 (Red Deer River mouth)Coordinates: 50°55′23″N 109°53′42″W / 50.92315°N 109.89493°W / 50.92315; -109.89493 (Red Deer River mouth)
Basin size	45,100 km2 (17,400 sq mi)
Physical characteristics
Length	724 km (450 mi)
Discharge	Average rate: 70 m3/s (2,500 cu ft/s)

The Red Deer River is a river in Alberta and a small portion of Saskatchewan, Canada. It is a major tributary of the South Saskatchewan River and is part of the larger Saskatchewan-Nelson system that empties into Hudson Bay.

Red Deer River has a total length of 724 kilometres (450 mi) and a drainage area of 45,100 square kilometres (17,400 sq mi). Its mean discharge is 70 cubic metres per second (2,500 cu ft/s).

The river got its name from the translation of Was-ka-soo which means "elk river" in the Cree.

Communities located along the Red Deer River include Sundre, Red Deer, Drumheller, and Empress, The city of Brooks, as well as Dinosaur Provincial Park, are also located in the Red Deer River Basin. A glacial flood about 18,000 years ago eroded out a portion of this basin and apparently all or most of the scenic badlands bearing the dinosaur and other Cretaceous fossils.

Joseph Tyrrell discovered a huge coal seam here in 1883, besides large dinosaur skeletons.

In June 2013, Alberta, Canada, experienced heavy rainfall that triggered catastrophic flooding throughout much of the southern half of the province along the Bow, Elbow, Highwood, Oldman, and Red Deer rivers and tributaries. Twenty-four municipalities declared local states of emergency as water levels rose and numerous communities were placed under evacuation orders. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police stated four people may have drowned near High River. Over 100,000 people have been displaced throughout the region.