Carrot River is a river in north-eastern Saskatchewan, and north-western Manitoba. Its headwaters originate in the Cudworth and Tiger Hill Plains near the town of Wakaw, Saskatchewan. The outlet of Wakaw Lake marks the beginning of the Carrot River and, from there, it flows north-east through Melfort and Red Earth First Nation until it joins into the Saskatchewan River west of The Pas, Manitoba. The river parallels the course of the South Saskatchewan and Saskatchewan Rivers and is about in length. It serves as the main watershed for north-eastern Saskatchewan.
History
The Carrot River valley was initially inhabited by Cree and Saulteaux Aboriginal people. English fur trader and explorer Henry Kelsey explored the river in the summer of 1691. Louis de la Corne, Chevalier de la Corne and Anthony Henday also explored the valley during the 1750s.
Fossils and historical finds
During the 1980s, the Royal Saskatchewan Museum explored the banks and rock edges of the Carrot River, because a local farmer had been finding numerous fossils in that area. The tests on the found fossils showed them to be approximately 92 million years old. The sites along the Carrot River proved to be some of the wealthiest deposits of fossils and showed deposits from numerous other species including sharks and fish.
The most notable find was in 1991, when the Royal Saskatchewan Museum and the Canadian Museum of Nature unearthed the six-metre fossil skeleton of an ancient crocodile, a Terminonaris robustus specimen named "Big Bert". Big Bert turned out to be very well-preserved and the only one of its kind found in Canada. They also found a complete fossil of Xiphactinus and toothed birds.
Pasquia Regional Park
Pasquia Regional Park () is a regional park along the course of the Carrot River downstream and east of where the Burntout Brook meets it. The park is on the north bank of the river and has a campground with over 200 campsites, a golf course, licensed restaurant, mini golf, junior Olympic sized swimming pool, river access, and hiking trails. The Dickson Hardie Interpretive Centre that houses "Big Bert" is at the park. It is about south of the town of Carrot River and access is from Highway 23.
Pasquia Park Golf Club is a 9-hole course with grass greens. There is a driving range and it is a par 37 with 3,241 yards. There is a licensed club house with cart and club rentals.
Fish species
Fish commonly found in the river include walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, burbot, and white sucker.