Bella Coola River facts for kids

The Bella Coola River is an important river located on the western side of the Coast Mountains in southern British Columbia, Canada. The town of Bella Coola is found where the river meets the ocean at North Bentinck Arm. This area is also home to the main community of the Nuxalk people, who gathered there after facing challenges like diseases and changes to their traditional lands.

Bella Coola is a special town because it's the only one on the mainland of the British Columbia Coast between Kitimat and Squamish that has a road connecting it to the inland side of the Coast Mountains. This road is Highway 20, which comes from Williams Lake through the Chilcotin Country. The town also has a ferry terminal, offering a way to travel by boat from Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island to Bella Coola and other smaller communities along the coast.

Understanding the Bella Coola River's Path

The Bella Coola River itself is actually the final part of a much longer river system. Upstream, it's mostly known as the Atnarko River. However, a few miles before it reaches the town of Bella Coola, the Atnarko River joins with Burnt Bridge Creek and the Talchako River. At this point, the river officially changes its name to the Bella Coola River.

River's Location and Surroundings

This river forms the northern edge of a group of mountains called the Pacific Ranges, which are part of the larger Coast Mountains. To the north and east of the Atnarko River is the Rainbow Range, a large area with volcanic features and plateaus. Beyond that, and past the Dean River, are the Kitimat Ranges, which are similar in size and importance to the Pacific Ranges.

River Basin Size

The entire area that collects water for the Bella Coola River and all its smaller streams is quite large. This area, known as its drainage basin, covers about 5,009 square kilometers (1,934 square miles).

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