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the Degree Confluence Project
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Canada : Alberta

3.0 km (1.9 miles) W of Coutts, AB, Canada
Approx. altitude: 1045 m (3428 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap topo topo250 ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 49°S 68°E

Accuracy: 4 m (13 ft)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: Looking west from Confluence #3: Looking east from Confluence #4: Looking south from Confluence #5: GPS at confluence #6: Horses looking at us during entire hike #7: Muddy lake just north of confluence

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  49°N 112°W (visit #3)  

#1: Looking north from Confluence

(visited by Sacha Peter and Calvin Chang)

26-Aug-2007 -- This confluence is located just to the east of a lake. When you look at this point on Google Earth, it looks like a dry lake, but when we visited the site, it clearly had water. This confluence was completed strictly from the Canadian side of the border.

We parked on the southwest corner of a gravel road that connects to highway 4. There was no sign of life and there was a significant wind going west to east. I would guess that this is some sort of agricultural research area, although nobody was around and the nearest buildings are 100-year old wooden shacks ready to fall down. From this spot, we proceeded west-bound, just above the three vertical rows of trees that can be seen on the satellite imagery. After clearing the third row of trees, we proceeded directly to the confluence. The ground was ploughed recently.

About 800 meters from the confluence, the property was fenced off with barbed wire. On the corner of the fence was plain wire fence, and there were no signs of "no trespassing", so we decided to cross over. The terrain was somewhat hilly, but easily passable. Closer to the lake there was another barbed wire fence to cross, and this point was about 200 meters away from the confluence.

On the hill just east of the confluence were horses. They were standing near the barbed wire fence and as we continued to walk toward the confluence, their heads continued to follow us. It was rather eerie being watched in this rather remote area.

Finally, we reached the confluence. The vegetation in the immediate area looked like it had the benefit of water and we took our photos and got out the same way we left, leaving some distance between ourselves and the horses.

The Canada-US border fence was visible from our location, but we did not decide to venture over there as the ground was somewhat moist. The whole thing took about an hour and a half and the only challenge was to be vigilant for rattlesnakes, of which we saw none.


 All pictures
#1: Looking north from Confluence
#2: Looking west from Confluence
#3: Looking east from Confluence
#4: Looking south from Confluence
#5: GPS at confluence
#6: Horses looking at us during entire hike
#7: Muddy lake just north of confluence
ALL: All pictures on one page
  Notes
The borderline with the U.S. is running about 160 m south of the Confluence.