The South Saskatchewan River is Saskatoon's most famous natural landmark. From the city's beginnings as a temperance colony, to the 21st century, the river has always been an integral part of Saskatoon life.

The South Saskatchewan River is a freshwater system arising in the Rocky Mountains and evenually discharging into Hudson Bay. The system originates from seven smaller rivers flowing from the Great Divide in Montana and southern Alberta. These rivers merge and between Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, the South Saskatchewan river emerges at the junction of the Bow and Oldman rivers. After working its way through the prairies, the river widens into Lake Diefenbaker, angles past Saskatoon into the parklands and flows on to the Forks.

The Bow-South Saskatchewan river system is 1,930 kilometres long. With the completion of the Gardiner and Qu'appelle Valley Dams, a large reservoir was created to provide hydroelectric power for a large region of the province south of Saskatoon. The Saskatchwan River and its tributaries were once vital thoroughfares for fur traders and explorers.