Waters from the Milk River eventually make their way into the Gulf of Mexico. The river actually begins in Montana on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. It initially flows northeast, crossing briefly into Alberta where it then turns south and re-enters Montana. The Milk River then joins the Missouri River which leads to the Mississippi.
The Peace River was named for a settlement between warring regional Indian tribes. The Rocky Mountains of British Columbia are the source of the Peace River. It flows northeastward through Alberta into Wood Buffalo National Park, joining the Athabasca River to form the Slave River. Water from the Peace River eventually reaches the Arctic Ocean.
Though the majority of Lake Athabasca lies in Saskatchewan, Athabasca is still the largest lake in Alberta and the eighth largest in Canada. Located in the northeastern corner of Alberta, the lake is fed by the Athabasca River, which originates in Jasper National Park and follows a course similar to the Peace River. Waters from the Athabasca flow into the Slave River and on toward the Arctic Ocean.
Adjacent to Lake Athasbasca is Lake Claire. Lying inside the Wood Buffalo National Park, this sizable lake is the largest lake entirely within Alberta's borders. It is quite shallow, with a maximum depth of two meters. Lake Claire drains into Lake Athabasca.
Right in the middle of the province sits Lesser Slave Lake. It is the smaller sister of Great Slave Lake, which lies farther north in the Northwest Territories. Just a few hours from the city of Edmonton, it's a popular spot for weekend fishing and cross-country skiing getaways. The Slave River flows out of Slave Lake, into the Athasbasca and onward to the Arctic Ocean.
