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Elochoman River facts for kids

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Elochoman River
Elochoman River is located in Washington (state)
Elochoman River
Location of the mouth of the Elochoman River in Washington
Country United States
State Washington
County Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Pacific
Physical characteristics
Main source Elochoman Lake
Willapa Hills, Cowlitz County, Washington
1,654 ft (504 m)
46°20′20″N 123°12′43″W / 46.33889°N 123.21194°W / 46.33889; -123.21194
River mouth Columbia River
Elochoman Slough, Wahkiakum County, Washington
0 ft (0 m)
46°13′35″N 123°24′2″W / 46.22639°N 123.40056°W / 46.22639; -123.40056
Length 15 mi (24 km)
Basin features
Basin size 73 sq mi (190 km2)

The Elochoman River is a river in the state of Washington, in the United States. It is about 15 miles (24 km) long.

This river is a tributary of the mighty Columbia River. A tributary is a smaller river or stream that flows into a larger one.

The name "Elochoman" comes from an old village. This village belonged to the Cathlamet people. They were part of the larger Chinookan group.

Journey of the Elochoman River

The Elochoman River begins its journey at Elochoman Lake. This lake is located in Cowlitz County. From the lake, the river flows west for several miles.

As it travels, other streams join it. The East Fork and North Fork tributaries add their waters to the main river. After this, the river turns and flows south.

A few miles later, the West Fork tributary also joins the Elochoman. From there, the river continues flowing south and then southwest. Its valley starts to get wider. This wide, flat area is known as the Upper Elochoman Valley.

Next, the river goes through a short, narrow section. This is like a small canyon or "gorge." After the gorge, the river flows through the Lower Elochoman Valley. Here, it "meanders," which means it twists and turns in a winding path.

Near its end, the Elochoman River flows through special water channels. These are called "sloughs" and "wetlands." Wetlands are marshy areas where the land is often wet. These areas are part of the Columbia River's estuary. An estuary is where a river meets the sea, and fresh water mixes with salt water.

The river's mouth is on Elochoman Slough. This slough is a 3-mile (4.8 km) long side-channel of the Columbia River. It is located near Hunting Islands and the town of Cathlamet. A large part of the lower Elochoman River and its sloughs are important. They are part of the Columbian White-tailed Deer National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge helps protect special animals.

Amazing Fish and Wildlife

The Elochoman River is home to many different types of fish. It is especially known for its salmon. You can find Chinook, Coho, and Chum salmon here.

The river also supports "winter-run" steelhead trout. Steelhead are a type of rainbow trout that spend part of their lives in the ocean. They then return to freshwater rivers to lay their eggs.

Many people enjoy sport fishing in the Elochoman River. The steelhead trout are a big reason why. Over 1,000 steelhead often return to the river each year.

A very famous fish was caught here! The largest Chinook salmon ever caught in freshwater in Washington State was from this river. Mark Salmon caught it on October 5, 1992. That huge fish weighed 68 pounds and 4 ounces (about 31 kg).

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