Salmon River (Idaho) 651962 224993104 2008-07-11T10:39:17Z NE2 1757249 We don't put image credits under images. {{Geobox River <!-- *** Name section *** --> | name = Salmon River | native_name = | other_name = River of No Return | other_name1 = <!-- *** Image *** ---> | image = Salmon-river-1.jpg | image_size = 200 | image_caption = <!-- *** Country etc. *** --> | country = United States | country1 = | state = Idaho | state1 = | region = | region1 = | district = | district1 = | city = [[Salmon, Idaho|Salmon]] | city1 = [[Challis, Idaho|Challis]] <!-- *** Geography *** --> | length_imperial = 425 | length_note = <ref name="gazetteer">[http://www.bartleby.com/69/19/S02219.html Salmon River], The Columbia Gazetteer of North America</ref> | watershed_imperial = 14000 | discharge_location = [[White Bird, Idaho|White Bird]] | discharge_imperial = 11060 | discharge_max_imperial = 129000 | discharge_min_imperial = 1000 | discharge_note = <ref>[http://pubs.usgs.gov/wdr/2005/wdr-id-05-1/ Water Resources Data, Idaho, 2005], [[United States Geological Survey|USGS]]</ref> | discharge1_location = | discharge1_imperial = <!-- *** Source *** --> | source_name = [[Sawtooth Range (Idaho)|Sawtooth Range]] | source_location = | source_district = | source_region = | source_state = | source_country = | source_lat_d = 43 | source_lat_m = 47 | source_lat_s = 48 | source_lat_NS = N | source_long_d = 114 | source_long_m = 46 | source_long_s = 36 | source_long_EW = W | source_coordinates_note = <ref name="GNIS">{{Gnis|400069|Salmon River}}, [[United States Geological Survey|USGS]], [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]]</ref> | source_elevation_imperial = 9220 | source_elevation_note = <ref name="GE">[[Google Earth]] elevation for [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] coordinates.</ref> | source_length_imperial = <!-- *** Mouth *** --> | mouth_name = Snake River | mouth_location = | mouth_district = | mouth_region = | mouth_state = | mouth_country = | mouth_lat_d = 45 | mouth_lat_m = 51 | mouth_lat_s = 23 | mouth_lat_NS = N | mouth_long_d = 116 | mouth_long_m = 47 | mouth_long_s = 37 | mouth_long_EW = W | mouth_coordinates_note = <ref name="GNIS"/> | mouth_elevation_imperial = 903 | mouth_elevation_note = <ref name="GE"/> <!-- *** Tributaries *** --> | tributary_left = Yankee Fork | tributary_left1 = Panther Creek | tributary_left2 = (MiddleFork Salmon River) | tributary_left4 = Little Salmon River | tributary_right = East Fork Salmon River | tributary_right1 = Pahsimeroi River | tributary_right2 = Lemhi River | tributary_right3 = North Fork Salmon River <!-- *** Free fields *** --> | free_name = | free_value = <!-- *** Map section *** --> | map = Salmon River Idaho Map.png | map_size = 300 | map_caption = Map of the Salmon River, showing its tributary Middle Fork Salmon River, and its connection to the Columbia River via the Snake River }} The '''Salmon River''' is located in [[Idaho]] in the northwestern [[United States]]. The Salmon is also known as ''The River of No Return''. It flows for {{convert|425|mi|km|0}} through central Idaho, draining {{convert|14000|mi2|km2|0}} and dropping more than {{convert|7000|ft|m|0}} between its headwaters above the [[Sawtooth Valley]] and its confluence with the [[Snake River]]. Its [[Discharge (hydrology)|discharge]] is {{convert|11060|cuft|m3|0|lk=on}} per second.<ref>http://pubs.usgs.gov/wdr/2005/wdr-id-05-1/ Water Resources Data, Idaho, 2005</ref> It is the second largest tributary of the Snake River behind the Clearwater River. Cities located along the Salmon River include [[Stanley, Idaho|Stanley]], [[Clayton, Idaho|Clayton]], [[Challis, Idaho|Challis]], [[Salmon, Idaho|Salmon]], [[Riggins, Idaho|Riggins]], and [[White Bird, Idaho|White Bird]]. ==Course== The headwaters of the Salmon River are in the mountains of central and eastern Idaho ([[Lemhi Range]], [[Sawtooth Range (Idaho)|Sawtooth]], [[Salmon River Mountains]], Clearwater and [[Bitterroot Range]]). The main fork of the Salmon is joined by the Yankee Fork, East Fork, [[Pahsimeroi River|Pahsimeroi]], [[Lemhi River|Lemhi]], North Fork, Middle Fork, South Fork, and [[Little Salmon River|Little Salmon]] rivers before emptying into the [[Snake River]] on the [[Oregon]]-[[Idaho]] border, north of [[Hells Canyon]], {{convert|15|mi|km|0}} south of [[Washington]] and {{convert|40|mi|km|0}} south of [[Lewiston, Idaho|Lewiston]].[[The Middle Fork of the Salmon River]] is one of the premier recreational rafting and kayaking rivers in the world. [[Image:Columbia.png|thumb|right|200px|Columbia River Basin]] Ten miles downstream of its confluence with the Middle Fork, the Salmon River becomes the dividing line for the two [[United States time zones|time zones]] in Idaho: [[Mountain Time Zone|Mountain time]] to the south, [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific time]] to the north. ==Anthropology== The Salmon River area has been home to people for at least the last 11,000 years. Much of the area was inhabited by several tribes, including the [[Nez Perce]]. The river was a rich source of food for the indigenous people of the area, who relied on the abundant salmon species and other wildlife. ==Corps of Discovery== In August of 1805, just after crossing the [[continental divide]], [[Lewis and Clark]] ventured down the Salmon River, but found it to be too rough to be navigable. Clark wrote: <blockquote>"...I shall in justice to Capt. Lewis who was the first white man ever on this fork of the Columbia Call this Louis's river. ...The Westerly fork of the Columbia River [the present Salmon River] is double the size of the Easterley fork [the present Lemhi River] & below those forks the river is ...100 yards [100 m] wide, it is very rapid & Sholey water Clear but little timber." </blockquote> The honor didn't last long; by 1810 maps of the area were already referring to "Louis' River" as the Salmon. Clark had thought that the Salmon River was the Snake River, thus he called it the "Westerly fork of the Columbia". The Snake River retained the variant name "Lewis River" or "Lewis Fork" longer than did the Salmon. ==Gold== In the 1860s, [[Placer deposit|placer deposits]] of [[gold]] were found along the river, and a [[gold rush]] began. Miners came to the area, causing clashes with the Nez Perce on their ancestral tribal lands. Many historic and present day mines (including dredging operations) can be seen while traveling along the river. ==Recreation== Two segments (the Middle Fork and a section of the main Salmon River) are protected as [[National Wild and Scenic River]]s. Today, the Salmon is a popular destination for [[whitewater kayaking]], [[canoeing]] or [[rafting]]. The Middle Fork, more than {{convert|100|mi|km|-1}} long, travels through the [[Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area]]. The South Fork flows through [[Payette National Forest]]. The main fork raft trip run is slightly less than {{convert|100|mi|km|-1}} and ends south of White Bird, although the stretch of river is {{convert|125|mi|km|-1}}. Single and multiple day trips on the river are available and offer beautiful views of wildlife and scenery. The river canyon allows for magnificent views of the complex [[geology]] of the region. ((The middle fork Salmon River)) is known as one of the best [[catch and release]] [[fly fishing|fly fisheries]] in the nation. Campgrounds along the river are available and offer stunning views of the river. [[Hiking]] and [[mountain biking]] are popular in the area. {| border="1" cellspacing="0" align="right" |- ! bgcolor=lightblue | '''Salmon River Canyon 1945''' |- | align="center" | [[Image:Theb1883.jpg|200px|Salmon River Canyon 1945]]<br> <small>U. S. Coast & Geodetic Survey <br>of Oscar Risvold</small> |} ==Wildlife== The Salmon River historically produced 39 percent of all the steelhead (salmon) and 45 percent of all the spring and summer chinook salmon in the entire Columbia River Basin. The Salmon River basin contains most (up to 70 percent) of the remaining salmon and steelhead habitat in the [[Columbia River Basin]]. Despite the abundant salmon habitat in the river, these fish have been declining, in large part because of the effects of four federal reservoirs and dams on the lower Snake and Columbia rivers. *Fish - Several [[Fish hatchery|fish hatcheries]] are located on rivers which join the Salmon. **[[Bull trout]] **[[Cutthroat trout]] **[[Rainbow trout]] **[[Salmon]]- chinook, sockeye **[[Smallmouth bass]] **[[rainbow trout|Steelhead]] **[[Sturgeon]] *Mammals **[[American badger|Badger]] **[[American beaver|Beaver]] **[[Bighorn sheep]] **[[American black bear|Black bear]] **[[Bobcat]] **[[Cougar]] **[[Coyote]] **[[Elk]] **[[Marmot]] **[[Marten]] **[[American mink|Mink]] **[[Moose]] **[[Mountain goat]] **[[Muskrat]] **[[Northern River Otter|River Otter]] **[[North American Porcupine|Porcupine]] **[[Red fox]] **[[Mule deer]] **[[Weasel]] **[[Skunk]] **[[White-tailed deer]] **[[Gray Wolf]] *Birds **[[Chukar]] **[[Eagle]] **[[Grouse]] ***[[Dusky grouse]] ***[[Ruffed grouse]] ***[[Spruce grouse]] **[[Hawk]] **[[Heron]] **[[Partridge]] **[[Waterfowl]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.visitidaho.org/thingstodo/attractions.aspx?attractionid=30955 Idaho Rivers site] *[http://www.nps.gov/rivers/wsr-salmon-main.html Salmon River (National Wild and Scenic Rivers site)] *[http://www.nps.gov/rivers/wsr-salmon-middle.html Middle Fork of the Salmon (National Wild and Scenic Rivers site)] {{Idaho}} [[Category:Lewis and Clark Expedition]] [[Category:Rivers of Idaho]] [[Category:Canyons and gorges of Idaho]] [[Category:Whitewater rivers of North America]] [[de:Salmon River (Idaho)]] [[pl:Salmon]] [[pt:Rio Salmon]]