Deadman River facts for kids
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The Deadman River is a river in British Columbia, Canada. It is also known as the Deadman's River, Deadman Creek, or Deadman's Creek. This river flows into the Thompson River and is about 70 kilometres (43 mi) long. It's an important part of the natural landscape in the British Columbia Interior.
Why is it Called the Deadman River?
The name of the Deadman River comes from a story way back in 1817. A person named Pierre Charette, who worked for the North West Company, died near the river after a disagreement with someone he was traveling with.
Later, in 1827, Archibald McDonald from the Hudson's Bay Company drew a map and called it Chivrette River. Over time, the river had other names too, like Knife, Dead, and Rivière du Défunt.
The local Shuswap people have their own name for the river, which is Hai in wohl. This name means "a circle" or "a detour."
Where Does the Deadman River Flow?
The Deadman River starts in a place called Hoover Lake. This lake is found near Stockton Hill on the Bonaparte Plateau, which is south of Bonaparte Lake.
From there, the river flows south. It eventually joins the Thompson River near a town called Savona. This meeting point is west of Kamloops Lake. One of the smaller streams that flows into the Deadman River is called Chris Creek.
History of the Deadman River Area
The lower part of the Deadman River was once a very important route. It was part of the Hudson's Bay Brigade Trail. This trail connected Fort Vancouver to the fur trading areas of New Caledonia.
During the Cariboo Gold Rush, many travelers used this route. They were heading north through the Okanagan region to reach the Cariboo gold fields. Along this old trail, there was a place called a roadhouse. Today, one of these old roadhouses is a ranch and guest house. It's called the Vidette Lake Gold Mine Ranch, located at Vidette, British Columbia.
This area is also home to Vidette Lake. In recent times, some people have called Vidette Lake a very special place. The main type of work and business in the Deadman River area is ranching.
