Clatskanie River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clatskanie River |
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 Location of the mouth of Clatskanie River in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Columbia County |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Northern Oregon Coast Range Columbia County, Oregon 1,340 ft (410 m) 45°51′47″N 122°59′59″W / 45.86306°N 122.99972°W |
| River mouth | Columbia River Clatskanie, Columbia County, Oregon 16 ft (4.9 m) 46°07′10″N 123°13′15″W / 46.11944°N 123.22083°W |
The Clatskanie River is a cool waterway in northwestern Oregon, United States. It's about 25 miles (40 km) long. This river flows into the mighty Columbia River. It helps drain a big area known for its timber (wood) production. This area is in the foothills of the Northern Oregon Coast Range, which is a mountain range.
Contents
Where the River Flows
The Clatskanie River starts in eastern Columbia County. This is about 10 miles (16 km) west of St. Helens. It begins on the northern slopes of a place called Bunker Hill.
River's Journey
The river generally flows north-northwest. It passes through the Clatsop State Forest. It also flows past the town of Clatskanie. Near Clatskanie, other streams like Conyers Creek and Beaver Creek join it. Finally, the Clatskanie River enters a slough (a muddy channel) on the Columbia River. This is about 5 miles (8 km) east of Westport.
Main Branches
The Clatskanie River has some important branches. These are called tributaries. Two major ones are Carcus Creek and the North Fork of the Clatskanie. They meet each other at a spot called Swedetown. The North Fork actually starts even further away, at a place called Apiary.
How the River Got Its Name
The Clatskanie River is named after a group of Native Americans. They were called the Tlatskanai tribe. They spoke an Athabascan language. This tribe lived in the valley of the nearby Nehalem River. They were there when Europeans first arrived in the early 1800s.
Meaning of the Name
It's interesting to know that the name "Tlats-kani" didn't originally mean the river itself. Instead, it referred to a path or trail. This path led to the main area where the Tlatskanai tribe lived. There's also another river, the Klaskanine River in Clatsop County. It was named for the same reason.
Streams Joining the Clatskanie
Many smaller streams, called tributaries, flow into the Clatskanie River. They join the river from its source all the way to its mouth.
- The Little Clatskanie River joins from the right side.
- Buck Creek also joins from the right.
- Falls Creek joins from the left side.
- The North Fork joins from the right.
- Carcus, Page, Miller, and Vonberg creeks all join from the left.
- Langfeld and Keystone creeks join from the right.
- Perkins, Merril, Conyers, and Fall creeks all join from the left.
- Beaver Slough (which is Beaver Creek) joins from the right.
