North Canadian River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids North Canadian River |
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The North Canadian River near Yukon, Oklahoma
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Map of the Canadian River watershed showing the North Canadian River
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| Country | United States |
| States | Oklahoma |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Confluence of Beaver River and Wolf Creek Woodward County 1,952 ft (595 m) 36°35′20″N 99°30′06″W / 36.5889236°N 99.5017789°W |
| River mouth | Eufaula Lake, Canadian River McIntosh County 581 ft (177 m) 35°22′30″N 95°36′36″W / 35.3750995°N 95.6099852°W |
| Length | 440 mi (710 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 17,955 square miles (46,500 km2) |
The North Canadian River is a long river in Oklahoma, United States. It stretches about 440 miles (710 km) across the state. This river is a branch, or tributary, of the larger Canadian River.
It helps drain a huge area of about 17,955 square miles (46,500 km2). This area, called a watershed, includes parts of northeastern New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle. A special part of the river in Oklahoma City was even renamed the Oklahoma River in 2004.
Contents
Where the North Canadian River Flows
The North Canadian River starts where two smaller streams meet. These are the Beaver River and Wolf Creek. This meeting point is northeast of Fort Supply in Woodward County, Oklahoma.
From there, the river generally flows towards the east and then the southeast. It passes through many counties in Oklahoma. These include Woodward, Major, Dewey, Blaine, Canadian, Oklahoma, Lincoln, Pottawatomie, Seminole, Hughes, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, and McIntosh counties.
The river also flows through important cities and towns. These are Woodward, Oklahoma City, and Shawnee. Along its path, dams create two lakes. One is Canton Lake near Canton. The other is Lake Overholser in Oklahoma City.
Finally, the North Canadian River joins the Canadian River. This happens in McIntosh County, as part of Lake Eufaula. Lake Eufaula is a large lake formed by a dam on the Canadian River itself.
The Oklahoma River: A Special Section
A 7-mile (11 km) part of the North Canadian River flows right through Oklahoma City. In 2004, this specific section was given a new name: the Oklahoma River. This change was made to highlight its new purpose.
This part of the river has several special structures called locks. These locks create a series of small lakes. These lakes are perfect for water sports and activities. You can often see rowing, kayaking, and canoeing races here.
The Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation, Chesapeake Boathouse, and Oklahoma City University often host these exciting events. The races include long 2.5-mile (4 km) head races, 2000-meter sprints, and shorter 500-meter sprints. It's also the only place in the United States where official night sprints are held under bright lights! The Oklahoma River was even featured in The New York Times newspaper in 2008.
Other Names for the River
The North Canadian River has been known by different names over time. Sometimes, the name "North Canadian River" was used for a longer stretch of water. This included the Beaver River and one of its starting streams, Corrumpa Creek. This would make the river seem to reach into New Mexico and Texas.
The U.S. government used this longer definition for many years, from 1914 to 1970. However, in 1970, they changed the official definition. Now, the North Canadian River is considered to start where the Beaver River and Wolf Creek meet.
The Geographic Names Information System lists several other historical names for the river. These include "Beaver Creek," "Beaver River," "Branche Nord de la Riviere Canadienne" (which means "North Branch of the Canadian River" in French), "Honih'hiyo'he," and "North Fork Canadian River."
Gallery
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The North Canadian River near Shawnee
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The Oklahoma River from a kayak in the center of the recreational rowing area, Chesapeake Boathouse and downtown Oklahoma City
See also
In Spanish: Río Canadian del Norte para niños
