Salt Creek (Amargosa River tributary) facts for kids
Salt Creek, also known as Rio Salitroso, is a special kind of stream called a 'wash.' It flows into the Amargosa River in San Bernardino County, California. This creek has a cool history! It was named Rio Salitroso on January 16, 1830, by a Spanish explorer named Antonio Armijo.
Armijo and his team followed Salt Creek. They were creating the very first path of the famous Old Spanish Trail. This trail was important for trade and travel long ago.
Salt Creek: A Desert Stream
Salt Creek is a 'tributary stream' or 'wash.' This means it's a smaller stream that flows into a larger one. In this case, it joins the Amargosa River. A 'wash' is a dry streambed that only carries water after heavy rains.
Where Does Salt Creek Start and End?
Salt Creek begins high up in the Soda Mountains. Its source is at an elevation of 890 feet (about 271 meters). This starting point is northwest of a town called Baker, California. You can find its exact location at 35°16′37″N 116°10′50″W / 35.27694°N 116.18056°W.
From the Soda Mountains, Salt Creek flows downhill. It enters the Silurian Valley. Here, it reaches a place called Dry Sand Lake. This lake is located at 35°25′31″N 116°10′03″W / 35.42528°N 116.16750°W.
The creek then continues to another lake named Silurian Lake. It flows northwest, picking up water from Kingston Wash along the way. Finally, Salt Creek leaves the valley. It passes through the Salt Spring Hills and reaches the Amargosa River. This meeting point is in Death Valley at an elevation of 390 feet (about 119 meters).
How Does Water Get to Salt Creek?
Most of the time, Salt Creek is a dry wash. But sometimes, especially after a lot of rain, it can have water. In very rare wet years, water from Soda Lake might even flow into Dry Sand Lake. This happens if Soda Lake and Silver Lake fill up and overflow. This extra water can come from heavy rains or even from the Mojave River.
