Siuslaw River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siuslaw River |
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Siuslaw River at Mapleton
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 Location of the mouth of the Siuslaw River in Oregon
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oregon |
| County | Lane |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Central Oregon Coast Range about 10 miles (16 km) west of Cottage Grove 636 ft (194 m) 43°49′23″N 123°15′42″W / 43.82306°N 123.26167°W |
| River mouth | Pacific Ocean Florence 0 ft (0 m) 44°01′01″N 124°08′14″W / 44.01694°N 124.13722°W |
| Length | 110 mi (177 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 773 sq mi (2,000 km2) |
The Siuslaw River ( sy-YOO-slaw) is a river in Oregon, United States. It flows about 110 miles (177 km) to the Pacific Ocean. This river drains a large area of land, about 773 square miles (2,000 km2). This area is in the Central Oregon Coast Range. It is southwest of the Willamette Valley.
Contents
Exploring the Siuslaw River
Where the River Flows
The Siuslaw River starts in the mountains of southwestern Lane County. This is about 10 miles (16 km) west of Cottage Grove. The river generally flows west and northwest through the mountains. It passes by a town called Swisshome. Finally, it reaches the Pacific Ocean at Florence. The point where the ocean's tide affects the river is about 26 miles (42 km) upstream.
History and People
The Siuslaw River is named after the Siuslaw people. This Native American group lived along the river for a very long time. They had villages and farms in the river valley. The river was an important part of their homeland and daily life.
Nature and Wildlife
The Siuslaw River valley has been an important area for timber. Timber means wood from trees. The lower part of the river flows through the Siuslaw National Forest. This is a large protected forest area.
The river is also a special place for fish. It has historically been a spawning ground for Chinook and coho salmon. Salmon are fish that swim upstream to lay their eggs. While Chinook salmon are still common, the number of coho salmon has dropped a lot. In the late 1800s, there were hundreds of thousands of coho fish. By the 1990s, there were only a few thousand.
The area where the river meets the ocean is called an estuary. This estuary is surrounded by many wetlands. Wetlands are areas of land covered by water. They are very important homes for birds that travel long distances. Many migratory birds stop here along the coast. The Siuslaw River is also special because its main branches do not have any dams. This is rare for rivers in Western Oregon.
Transportation and Bridges
A railroad line, the Coos Bay Rail Link, follows the Siuslaw River. This part of the railroad is called the Coos Bay branch. It crosses many bridges as it winds through the narrow river valley. It goes all the way to a special bridge called a swing bridge at Cushman. A swing bridge can open to let boats pass through.
