San Antonio River (California) facts for kids
The San Antonio River is a river in southern Monterey County, California. It is about 58.8 kilometers (36.5 miles) long. Long ago, people used the river to water their crops at Mission San Antonio de Padua.
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Where the River Flows
The San Antonio River starts high up in the Santa Lucia Range. This area is part of the Los Padres National Forest. The river flows southeast from its starting point.
Lake San Antonio and the Dam
As the river flows, it reaches Lake San Antonio. This lake is a large reservoir. A reservoir is like a big, artificial lake where water is stored. The lake was created by building the San Antonio Dam. This dam is made of earth and helps to hold back the river's water. Lake San Antonio is the biggest lake in Monterey County.
Joining the Salinas River
After passing the dam, the San Antonio River continues to flow east. Eventually, it meets and joins the Salinas River. The Salinas River is another important river in the area.
Nearby Rivers
The Nacimiento River is another river that flows near the San Antonio River. It also feeds into Lake Nacimiento. Both the San Antonio River and the Nacimiento River are important parts of the larger Salinas River system.
Animals in the River
California Golden Beavers
The San Antonio River is home to animals like the California golden beaver. These beavers are a type of North American beaver. Long ago, many beavers were hunted for their fur. This caused their numbers to drop a lot.
Now, these beavers are making a comeback! They have been spreading out from the San Antonio River below the reservoir. They are now found in the main part of the Salinas River too. This shows that the river environment is becoming healthier for them.
See also
In Spanish: Río San Antonio (California) para niños
