Waskesiu Upland

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The Waskesiu Upland, like most major uplands in Saskatchewan, is composed of unstratified clay and stone till deposited by glaciers during the last ice age over 10,000 years ago. Nimrod Hill in the Nimrod Hills{{cite web |title=Nimrod Hills|url=https://toponymes.rncan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/HAMFN|website=Canadian Geographical Names Database |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=10 September 2022}} of the Waskesiu Hills is the highest point in the upland at {{convert|747|m}}{{cite web |title=Nimrod Hills, Saskatchewan |url=https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=30290 |website=Peakbagger |publisher=Peakbagger.com. |access-date=11 September 2022}} and represents the divide between the North Saskatchewan River and Churchill River drainage basins. Rivers such as the south flowing Spruce and Sturgeon Rivers and the north flowing Beartrap{{cite web |title=Beartrap Creek |url=https://toponymes.rncan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/HAKGJ|website=Canadian Geographical Names Database |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=10 September 2022}} and Parish Creeks have their headwaters there.

The landscape of Waskesiu Upland consists of rolling hills, knolls, moraines, kettles, muskeg, bogs, and glacier formed valleys. The northern slopes are generally steeper and rougher than the southern ones. The lakes around the hills, especially the southern ones, have deposits of glacial Sediments. Many of the streams that flow out of the plateau are considered misfit streams as the valleys they follow are large and wide as they were formed by glacial meltwaters.{{cite web |title=Waskesiu Upland |url=https://esask.uregina.ca/entry/waskesiu_upland.jsp |website=The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan |publisher=University of Saskatchewan |access-date=10 September 2022}}

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The south end of Waskesiu Upland is in the North Saskatchewan River watershed. The Sturgeon River begins at the Nimrod hills in the Waskesiu Hills and flows down the western side of the upland through a glacier formed valley. The Spruce River, with its source only a short distance from Sturgeon River's source, flows south down the eastern side of the upland. Spruce River Dam was built along the river's course in 1960 creating Anglin Lake in Great Blue Heron Provincial Park.

Rivers and creeks flowing from the northern and north-western slopes work their way into Smoothstone River,{{cite web |title=Smoothstone River |url=https://toponymes.rncan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique/HANRM|website=Canadian Geographical Names Database |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=10 September 2022}} which heads north to the Churchill River. Mahigan Creek, Philion River, Buhl Creek, Randall River, and Twoforks River, are all tributaries of Smoothstone River that flow from the Waskesiu Upland.{{cite web |title=Waskesiu Hills, Saskatchewan Map |url=https://www.geodata.us/canada_names_maps/maps.php?featureid=HAJQN&f=253 |website=Geodata |access-date=10 September 2022}} On the western side, between the Smoothstone and Sturgeon Rivers' watersheds, several creeks and rivers flow westward into Nesslin and Delaronde Lakes. Delaronde Lake lies adjacent to the western slopes of the hills and is part of the Cowan River watershed. The Cowan River flows northward and meets Beaver River en route to the Churchill River.

There are several large lakes in the lowland between the Waskesiu and Thunder Hills, including Waskesiu, Kingsmere, and Crean. The Waskesiu, Crean, and MacLennan Rivers drain much of this lowland east into Montreal Lake. Montreal River, which is in the Churchill River drainage basin, flows out of Montreal Lake and northward. Near the north-eastern corner of the plateau, is Weyakwin Lake, which is a large lake that rivers and creeks flow into from the surrounding Thunder Hills.

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Prince Albert National Park encompasses most of Waskesiu Hills, the southern part of Thunder Hills, and the lowlands between them. The park has several campgrounds, multiple hiking trails of varying difficulty,{{cite web |title=Hiking |url=https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/sk/princealbert/activ/experiences/randonee-hiking |website=Prince Albert National Park |publisher=Parks Canada |access-date=11 September 2022}} and access to several lakes for recreation. On the southern shore of Waskesiu Lake is the village of Waskesiu Lake. The village is the recreational centre of the park and uplands as there is a golf course,{{cite web |title=Waskesiu Golf Course |url=https://www.waskesiugolf.com/ |website=Waskesiu Golf |access-date=11 September 2022}} lodging, restaurants, shopping, and Prince Albert National Park Nature Centre.{{cite web |title=Waskesiu Heritage Museum |url=https://waskesiuheritagemoments.org/nature-centre-1 |website=Waskesiu Heritage Moments |publisher=Waskesiu Heritage Museum |access-date=12 September 2022}} Adjacent to Kingsmere Lake is Ajawaan Lake which is where Grey Owl's cabin is located.

Outside of the national park are several small provincial campgrounds and conservation areas including at Waskesiu River, MacLennan River, Weyakwin Lake (Ramsey Bay), Nesslin Lake, Delaronde Lake (Zig Zag Bay), Elaine Lake, and Smoothstone Lake. The western part of Great Blue Heron Provincial Park covers part of the eastern slopes of Waskesiu Hills.{{cite web |title=Great Blue Heron Provincial Park |url=https://www.tourismsaskatchewan.com/provincialpark/1426/great-blue-heron-provincial-park#sort=relevancy |website=Tourism Saskatchewan |publisher=Government of Saskatchewan |access-date=12 September 2022}}

The Waskesiu Upland is heavily forested and since most of the plateau is in parkland, much of the forest is protected. The southern parts of the upland is forested with trembling aspen and white spruce while the northern parts are forested with jack pine and black spruce. Tamarack and black spruce are found in the peatlands.

Animals commonly found on the upland include bears, bison, elk, deer, foxes, wolves, and otters.{{cite web |title=Photographing Wildlife in Prince Albert National Park |url=https://www.tourismsaskatchewan.com/blog/2020/02/03/Photographing-Wildlife-in-Prince-Albert-National-Park |website=Tourism Saskatchewan |publisher=Government of Saskatchewan |access-date=11 September 2022 |date=3 February 2020}}{{cite web |title=Wildlife watching |url=https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/sk/princealbert/activ/experiences/observation-watching |website=Prince Albert National Park |publisher=Parks Canada |access-date=11 September 2022}} There are over 200 species of birds in the hills, including the site of the second largest breeding colony of white pelicans in Canada at Lavallée Lake.

• List of protected areas of Saskatchewan
• Geography of Saskatchewan

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Category:Prince Albert National Park

Category:Hills of Saskatchewan

Category:Natural history of Saskatchewan

Category:Landforms of Saskatchewan

Category:Northern Saskatchewan Administration District