Parsnip River facts for kids

The Parsnip River is a long river in central British Columbia, Canada. It stretches for about 240 kilometers (150 miles). This river starts high up in the Hart Ranges mountains. It then flows mostly northwest.

The Parsnip River used to join another river called the Finlay River. Together, they formed the Peace River. This meeting point was at a place called Finlay Forks. Both rivers followed a natural valley called the Rocky Mountain Trench. Today, the Parsnip River flows into the Parsnip Reach of Williston Lake. This lake was created in 1968 by the W.A.C. Bennett Dam.

What's in a Name?

The Parsnip River got its name from a plant. This plant is called cow-parsnip, or sometimes Indian rhubarb. It grows a lot along the riverbanks. Its scientific name is Heracleum lanatum.

River History

The Parsnip River is important in Canadian history. In 1793, a famous explorer named Alexander Mackenzie used this river. It was part of his amazing journey to reach the Pacific Ocean.

In the 1970s, scientists studied the fish in the Parsnip River. They looked at tiny living things called parasites that lived on the fish. This research was important because there was a plan to move water from one river system to another. This plan was called a "water diversion."

The studies showed that some parasites could harm the fish. If the water was moved, these parasites might spread. This could hurt the fish populations in other areas. Because of these studies, the plan to divert the water was stopped. This helped protect the fish and the river's environment.

Rivers Joining the Parsnip

Many smaller rivers and creeks flow into the Parsnip River. These are called tributaries. They add water to the main river as it flows. Some of the main tributaries include:

• Hominka River
• Anzac River
• Table River
• Missinka River
• Crooked River
• Misinchinka River
  • Atunatche Creek