The Snake River is a major river of the greater Pacific Northwest in the United States. At 1078 miles (1735 km) long it is the largest tributary of the Columbia River in turn the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean. The Snake River rises in western Wyoming in the Snake River Plateau in Franklin County at the confluence of three smaller streams the North Middle and South Forks which rise in the mountains near Jackson Hole. The three forks converge into the main stem of the Snake a short distance downstream from the town of Alpine. The Snake River drains a large watershed including parts of six U.S. states: Wyoming Idaho Montana Oregon Washington and Nevada.
The Snake River is named for its serpentine shape. The Lewis and Clark Expedition crossed it in 1805–06 and the Oregon Trail crossed it about a century later. It provides vital irrigation for agriculture along its course and is a major source of hydroelectric power. It is also home to several species of fish birds and mammals including the endangered Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout and the newly reintroduced Yellowstone cutthroat trout.
The Snake River has been a vital thoroughfare for trade and transportation since ancient times. Native Americans used the river for transportation and fishing. The Lewis and Clark expedition navigated the river in 1805–06. In the late 19th century the river was a key route for steamboats transporting goods and passengers between Lewiston Idaho and Portland Oregon. Construction of the Idaho Canal in the early 20th century created a route for barges between the Snake River and the Columbia River.
The Snake River is a major tributary of the Columbia River which itself is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest and North America that empties into the Pacific Ocean. The Columbia River drains an area of about 244000 square miles (632000 km2) or about one-fifth of the area of the United States. The Snake River watershed encompasses about 98500 square miles (255000 km2) or about one-tenth of the Columbia River watershed.
The Snake River is the largest tributary of the Columbia River by volume of water and the second-largest by drainage area. The mainstem Snake River is 1078 miles (1735 km) long and the river’s average discharge is nearly 9400 cubic feet per second (266 m3/s). The Snake River’s drainage basin covers parts of six U.S. states: Wyoming Idaho Montana Oregon Washington and Nevada.
The Snake River rises in western Wyoming in the Snake River Plateau a high-altitude arid region that receives very little precipitation. The three forks of the Snake River the North Middle and South Forks converge into the main stem of the river a short distance downstream from the town of Alpine. The North Fork which rises in Grand Teton National Park is the longest of the three forks at about 100 miles (160 km) long. The Middle Fork which rises in the Bridger-Teton National Forest is about 90 miles (140 km) long. The South Fork which rises in Yellowstone National Park is about 80 miles (130 km) long.
The Snake River has been a vital thoroughfare for trade and transportation since ancient times. Native Americans used the river for transportation and fishing. The Lewis and Clark expedition navigated the river in 1805–06. In the late 19th century the river was a key route for steamboats transporting goods and passengers between Lewiston Idaho and Portland Oregon. Construction of the Idaho Canal in the early 20th century created a route for barges between the Snake River and the Columbia River.
The Snake River is a major source of hydroelectric power. There are a total of 15 dams on the Snake River 14 of which are in the United States and one in Canada. These dams provide electricity for homes industry and irrigation.
The Snake River is home to several species of fish birds and mammals. The Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout is an endangered species. The Yellowstone cutthroat trout is a newly reintroduced species. Other fish species in the Snake River include the rainbow trout brown trout and brook trout.
The Snake River provides vital irrigation for agriculture along its course. The river drains a large watershed that includes parts of six U.S. states: Wyoming Idaho Montana Oregon Washington and Nevada.
How did the Snake River get its name?
Answer: Native Americans living in the area named the river after the many snakes that inhabit itsbanks.
Why is the Snake River so important?
Answer: The Snake River is a major tributary of the Columbia River which itself is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America.
What kind of fish can be found in the Snake River?
Answer: Some of the fish that can be found in the Snake River include salmon steelhead trout sturgeon and bass.
What is the highest point in the Snake River watershed?
Answer: The highest point in the Snake River watershed is 12662 feet (3860 meters) above sea level at the summit of Pilot Peak in Wyoming.
What is the average depth of the Snake River?
Answer: The average depth of the Snake River is about 8 feet (2.
4 meters).
What is the length of the Snake River?
Answer: The length of the Snake River is 1078 miles (1735 kilometers).
What is the average discharge of the Snake River?
Answer: The average discharge of the Snake River is about 42000 cubic feet per second (1200 cubic meters per second).
What are the sources of the Snake River?
Answer: The Snake River has its headwaters in the mountains of Wyoming Idaho and Montana.
What are the mouth and delta of the Snake River?
Answer: The mouth of the Snake River is at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers in Washington state.
The delta of the Snake River is located at the confluence of the river and the Columbia River.
What is the Snake River Basin?
Answer: The Snake River Basin is the area of land that drains into the Snake River.
What is the Snake River Aquifer?
Answer: The Snake River Aquifer is a large underground reservoir of water that is held in the rocks and sediments beneath the Snake River Plain.
What kind of plants and animals can be found along the Snake River?
Answer: Some of the plants and animals that can be found along the Snake River include cattails willows beavers otters and moose.
What is the Snake River Compact?
Answer: The Snake River Compact is an agreement between the states of Idaho Wyoming and Nevada that determines how the water in the Snake River Basin will be used.
What are the three dams on the Snake River?
Answer: The three dams on the Snake River are the Upper Salmon Falls Dam the Lower Salmon Falls Dam and the American Falls Dam.
What is the Hells Canyon Dam?
Answer: The Hells Canyon Dam is a dam on the Snake River in Idaho.
