Dungeness River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dungeness River |
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 Location of the mouth of the Dungeness River in Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Clallam, Jefferson |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Olympic Mountains 47°48′19″N 123°10′0″W / 47.80528°N 123.16667°W |
| River mouth | Strait of Juan de Fuca 48°9′3″N 123°8′8″W / 48.15083°N 123.13556°W |
| Length | 28 mi (45 km) |
The Dungeness River is a beautiful river in the state of Washington, in the United States. It is about 28-mile (45 km) long. This river flows through the amazing Olympic Peninsula.
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Exploring the Dungeness River
The Dungeness River starts high up in the Olympic Mountains. Its source is near Mount Constance, inside the Olympic National Park. From there, it flows through the quiet Buckhorn Wilderness.
Where Does the River Go?
As the river continues its journey, it passes by the town of Sequim. Finally, the Dungeness River empties into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This happens at a place called Dungeness Bay, right behind the Dungeness Spit.
One important stream that flows into the Dungeness River is the Gray Wolf River. You can also find the Dungeness River Bridge crossing over it.
How Did the Dungeness River Get Its Name?
The Dungeness River gets its name from the nearby Dungeness Spit. The name "Dungeness" itself comes from a place in England. It was named by a famous explorer, George Vancouver, in 1792.
Vancouver thought the land looked a lot like a headland (a piece of land sticking out into the sea) in England. He wrote that the "low sandy point of land" reminded him of "Dungeness in the British Channel." So, he called it "New Dungeness."
Discovering Scarborough Island
Scarborough Island is a tiny island located right in the Dungeness River. It's found near the town of Sequim, Washington. This small island is about one acre in size.
You can often see Scarborough Island from the Dungeness River Dike. It's a neat little spot in the middle of the river.
