Cheakamus River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cheakamus RiverRivière Cheakamus |
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Location map of Cheakamus River; Squamish River shown in orange.
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Outlier Peak Garibaldi Provincial Park, Coast Mountains 1,880 m (6,170 ft) 49°57′N 122°45′W / 49.950°N 122.750°W |
| River mouth | Squamish River 18 m (59 ft) 49°47′N 123°10′W / 49.783°N 123.167°W |
| Length | 70 km (43 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 1,070 km2 (410 sq mi) |
The Cheakamus River (say CHEEK-a-mus) is a beautiful river in British Columbia, Canada. It flows into the Squamish River. The river starts high up on Outlier Peak. This peak is found in Garibaldi Provincial Park. It's near the popular ski town of Whistler.
The Cheakamus River first flows into Cheakamus Lake. Then it leaves the lake and heads northwest. After a while, it turns south. It then enters another lake called Daisy Lake. After Daisy Lake, the river goes through a deep valley. This valley is known as Cheakamus Canyon. Here, the water moves very fast. There are many rapids and even a waterfall. The river continues south. Finally, it joins the Squamish River near a place called Cheekye. This is just a few miles north of the town of Squamish. The name "Cheakamus" comes from the Squamish people. It means "people of the fish weir." A fish weir was a fence-like structure used to catch fish.
The Cheakamus River is about 70 kilometers (44 miles) long. A major highway, the Sea-to-Sky Highway, follows the river's path. A railway line also runs alongside it.
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Fun Activities on the Cheakamus River
The Cheakamus River is a great place for outdoor adventures. Many people enjoy whitewater rafting and kayaking here. The river is also famous for fishing. You can find steelhead and different types of salmon.
Power from the River
A lot of water from the upper Cheakamus River is used to make electricity. This water is taken from Daisy Lake. It flows through tunnels under the mountains. It goes to the Cheakamus Powerhouse. This powerhouse is located on the Squamish River.
Nearby Natural Wonders
Just north of Daisy Lake, you can visit Brandywine Falls. It's a stunning waterfall. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, some events were held nearby. The Nordic events complex was on Callaghan Creek. This creek flows into the Cheakamus River.
Important Tributaries
The Cheakamus River has several smaller rivers and creeks that flow into it. These are called tributaries.
- Callaghan Creek and Callaghan Valley
- Brandywine Creek
- Cheekye River
River Incident and Recovery
On August 5, 2005, an incident happened on the Cheakamus River. A train carrying different cars derailed. Some cars fell into the river. One car contained a substance that spilled into the water. This spill sadly caused many fish to die. It was estimated that over 500,000 fish were lost.
However, the river began to heal. Six years later, local news reported good news. Fish were returning to the Cheakamus River. This showed how nature can recover over time.
See also
In Spanish: Río Cheakamus para niños
