Duncan River (British Columbia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Duncan River |
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|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | near Mount Dawson Purcell Trench |
| River mouth | Kootenay River Kootenay Lake 50°10′44″N 116°56′8″W / 50.17889°N 116.93556°W |
| Length | 206 km (128 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 2,443 km2 (943 sq mi) |
The Duncan River is a long river located in British Columbia, Canada. It flows for about 206 kilometers (128 miles). This river is part of a much bigger water system called the Columbia River basin. The Duncan River flows into Kootenay Lake, which then connects to the Kootenay River. The Kootenay River eventually joins the Columbia River. The Duncan River also helps mark the border between two mountain ranges: the Selkirk Mountains on its west side and the Purcell Mountains on its east side.
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Where Does the Duncan River Flow?
The Duncan River starts high up in the mountains. It begins between Mount Duncan in the Selkirk Mountains and Silent Mountain in the Purcell Mountains. From there, it flows south through a valley called the Purcell Trench.
The river then flows into Duncan Lake. This was a natural lake, but it was made much bigger when the Duncan Dam was built. A short distance past the dam, another river, the Lardeau River, joins the Duncan River. The Lardeau River is the biggest river that flows into the Duncan. After this, the Duncan River continues south until it meets the Kootenay River at the northern part of Kootenay Lake.
A Look Back at the Duncan River's History
The Duncan River was named after a man named John ("Jack") Duncan. He was a prospector, which means he searched for valuable minerals. He also ran for a political position in the area back in 1866.
On some older maps, Duncan Lake was called "Upper Kootenay Lake" or "Howser Lake." But since 1912, the name Duncan has been used for the lake.
The River Before the Dam
Before the Duncan Dam was built, the river was like a main highway for boats. It was used by people working in mining and logging to move goods and supplies. Boats could travel all the way from Kootenay Lake to a place called Bonner's Ferry in Idaho, using the Kootenay River.
The Duncan Dam
The Duncan Dam was finished in 1967. It was the first of three dams built in Canada as part of the Columbia River Treaty. The main goal of the Duncan Dam is to control how much water flows into Kootenay Lake. This helps make sure there's enough water for other projects downstream, like the Kootenay Canal and Corra Linn Dam.
It's interesting to know that the Duncan Dam does not make any electricity. Its purpose is only to manage the water flow. When the dam was built, Duncan Lake grew a lot. It was originally about 25 kilometers (15 miles) long, but now it is about 45 kilometers (28 miles) long.
