Feather River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Feather River |
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| Río de las Plumas, Ya-loo | |
| River | |
 Freight train crossing the North Fork, 2017
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| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | California |
| Regions | Butte County, Yuba County, Sutter County |
| Part of | Sacramento River Basin |
| Tributaries | |
| - left | Yuba River, Bear River |
| - right | Sutter Bypass |
| Cities | Oroville, Yuba City, Marysville |
| Primary source | North Fork Feather River |
| - location | Confluence of Rice Creek and South Arm Rice Creek, Plumas County |
| - elevation | 5,436 ft (1,657 m) |
| Secondary source | Middle Fork Feather River |
| - location | Near Beckwourth, Sierra Valley, Plumas County |
| - elevation | 4,872 ft (1,485 m) |
| Source confluence | Lake Oroville |
| - location | Upstream of Oroville Dam |
| - elevation | 902 ft (275 m) |
| Mouth | Sacramento River |
| - location | Verona |
| - elevation | 26 ft (8 m) |
| Length | 73 mi (117 km), North-south |
| Basin | 6,197 sq mi (16,050 km²) |
| Discharge | for Nicolaus |
| - average | 8,321 cu ft/s (236 m³/s) |
| - max | 357,000 cu ft/s (10,109 m³/s) |
| - min | 222 cu ft/s (6 m³/s) |
| Type: | Wild, Scenic, Recreational |
| Designated: | October 2, 1968 |
The Feather River is a major river in Northern California, United States. It is a tributary (a smaller river that flows into a larger one) of the Sacramento River. The Feather River starts high up in the Sierra Nevada mountains. It is about 114 kilometers (71 miles) long. It generally flows south.
This river is super important for California. It provides a lot of drinking water for people. It also supplies water for irrigation, which means watering crops for farming. The huge Oroville Dam is built on this river. It is near the city of Oroville.
Contents
Where Does the Feather River Start?
The Feather River actually begins from three main branches. These are the North Fork, Middle Fork, and South Fork. These branches meet to form the main river.
North Fork Feather River
The North Fork is the longest branch. It starts in Plumas County. This area is high in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Middle Fork Feather River
The Middle Fork also begins in Plumas County. It starts near a place called Beckwourth. This area is part of the Sierra Valley.
South Fork Feather River
The South Fork is another important branch. It also flows from the Sierra Nevada mountains.
What Rivers Flow Into the Feather River?
Many smaller rivers and streams join the Feather River. These are called its tributaries. They add more water to the main river.
How the River Helps People
The Feather River is vital for California. It helps supply water to millions of people. This water is used for drinking, farming, and even making electricity.
Oroville Dam
The Oroville Dam is one of the tallest dams in the United States. It creates Lake Oroville. This lake stores a huge amount of water. The dam also helps prevent floods and generates hydroelectricity.
Water for Farming
The river's water helps grow many crops in California's Central Valley. This makes California a big producer of fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
Related Places and Projects
River Pictures
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Buzzard Springs, a source of the North Fork Feather River, with Lassen Peak in the background
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An aerial view where the Feather and Yuba rivers meet near Marysville and Yuba City
See also
In Spanish: Río de las Plumas para niños
