North Fork Trinity River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids North Fork Trinity River |
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|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| City | Helena |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Rays Peak Trinity National Forest 5,700 ft (1,700 m) 41°04′24″N 123°09′54″W / 41.07333°N 123.16500°W |
| River mouth | Trinity River Helena 1,358 ft (414 m) 40°46′14″N 123°07′39″W / 40.77056°N 123.12750°W |
| Length | 25 mi (40 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 151 sq mi (390 km2) |
| Tributaries |
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The North Fork Trinity River is a river in California, United States. It is a smaller river that flows into a larger one. This type of river is called a tributary. The North Fork Trinity River is a tributary of the Trinity River.
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About the North Fork Trinity River
This river flows through the beautiful Klamath Mountains. It travels south for about 25 miles (40 kilometers). Finally, it joins the Trinity River near a place called Helena. Helena is about 5 miles (8 kilometers) northeast of Junction City.
Where the River Starts and Ends
The North Fork Trinity River begins high up at a place called Rays Peak. This peak is located in the Trinity National Forest. At its start, the river is about 5,700 feet (1,700 meters) above sea level. It then flows downhill until it meets the Trinity River. Where it joins the Trinity River, the elevation is about 1,358 feet (414 meters).
What the River Drains
The North Fork Trinity River collects water from a large area. This area is called its drainage basin. The river's basin covers about 151 square miles (391 square kilometers). This means all the rain and snow that falls in this area eventually flows into the North Fork Trinity River. Some smaller streams also flow into it. These are called tributaries. Important tributaries include the East Fork North Fork Trinity River and Grizzly Creek.
How Much Water Flows
The amount of water in the river changes throughout the year. This is called its discharge. Near Helena, the river's flow can be quite different.
- Sometimes, it flows very slowly, with only about 7.5 cubic feet per second (0.21 cubic meters per second) of water.
- On average, it flows at about 431 cubic feet per second (12.2 cubic meters per second).
- During big storms or when snow melts quickly, the river can flow much faster. It can reach up to 35,800 cubic feet per second (1,010 cubic meters per second)! That's a lot of water moving very fast!
