Requa, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Requa
|
|
|---|---|
 Requa
Location in California
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Del Norte County |
| Elevation | 125 ft (38 m) |
Requa is a small, quiet community located in Del Norte County, California. It sits right on the north bank of the Klamath River, very close to where the river meets the Pacific Ocean. The land here is about 125 feet (38 meters) above sea level.
Requa is known as an unincorporated community. This means it is not officially a city or town with its own local government. Instead, it is managed by the county it is in, which is Del Norte County.
About Requa
Requa is a special place with a rich history and beautiful nature. It is located in northern California, close to the border with Oregon. The name Requa comes from the Yurok language. The Yurok are a Native American tribe who have lived in this area for a very long time. The word Rekwoi means "mouth of the creek." This was the name of an older Native American village located about one mile upstream from where Requa is today.
History of Requa
Europeans first settled in Requa in 1851. This happened after gold prospectors arrived in the area, looking for valuable minerals. The community grew over time.
A post office was opened in Requa in 1878. It served the community for many years, helping people send and receive mail. The post office stayed open until 1970, though it did close for a short time in 1883. It also moved to different locations a couple of times in the late 1800s.
Fishing Industry
Requa was once a very important center for fishing, especially for salmon. The Klamath Packing & Trading Company was started here in 1881. They built several canneries in the area. A cannery is a factory where fish are processed and put into cans for preservation.
At its busiest, the company reported bringing in more than 10,000 salmon every day! In 1912, they even set a record by catching 17,000 salmon in just one day. This shows how important the Klamath River was for fishing and how much salmon was available back then.
Nature and Wildlife
A part of the land in Requa is now part of Redwood National and State Parks. These parks are famous for their giant redwood trees, which are some of the tallest trees in the world.
One of the best spots in Requa is an amazing overlook above the mouth of the Klamath River. From this high point, visitors can enjoy incredible views. It is a great place for watching wildlife. You might even see whales swimming in the ocean or many different kinds of birds flying by. This area offers a wonderful chance to connect with nature.
Special Events
Requa has also been part of a rare astronomical event. On May 20, 2012, Requa was the first town on the North American continent to experience an annular eclipse from the centerline. An annular eclipse happens when the Moon passes in front of the Sun, but it is too far away to completely cover the Sun. This creates a bright ring of sunlight around the Moon, often called a "ring of fire." It was a very exciting event for the people in Requa!
