Frances River (Yukon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Frances River |
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| Country | Canada |
| Territory | Yukon |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Frances Lake 740 meters (2,430 ft) 61°13′29″N 129°16′59″W / 61.22472°N 129.28306°W |
| River mouth | Liard River 60°16′2″N 129°10′56″W / 60.26722°N 129.18222°W |
| Length | 140 kilometers (87 mi) |
The Frances River is a cool river located in the southern part of the Yukon territory in Canada. It's like a smaller stream that flows into a much bigger river called the Liard River. Think of it as a helper river, bringing water to the Liard.
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Exploring the Frances River
The Frances River is an important part of the Yukon's amazing natural landscape. It helps drain water from a large area, making it a key waterway in the region.
Where Does the Frances River Start?
The Frances River begins its journey from a beautiful place called Frances Lake. This lake acts like a giant pool, collecting water that then flows out to form the river.
Journey Through the Yukon Landscape
As the Frances River flows south, it passes by a small community named Tuchitua. Near Tuchitua, an important road called the Nahanni Range Road branches off from Yukon Highway 4. This highway is also known as the Robert Campbell Highway.
The Yukon Highway 4 actually runs right next to the Frances River for a while. Then, about 25 kilometers (around 15 miles) before the river joins the Liard River, the highway crosses over it. The highway then continues on to Watson Lake.
The Frances River finally flows into the Liard River about 25 kilometers (15 miles) northwest of Watson Lake. The river's valley also creates a natural separation between two mountain ranges: the Selwyn Mountains to the east and the Pelly Mountains to the west.
How Big is the Frances River?
The Frances River is about 140 kilometers (or 87 miles) long. That's a pretty good distance for a river!
Near where the highway bridge crosses it, the river moves a lot of water. On average, about 157 cubic meters of water flow past that point every second. To give you an idea, that's like filling 157 bathtubs with water every single second!
The area that collects water for the Frances River, called its catchment area, is very large. It covers about 12,800 square kilometers (or 4,942 square miles). This means a huge amount of land contributes water to the river.
