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Snake River facts for kids

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Snake River
Adams The Tetons and the Snake River.jpg
The Tetons - Snake River (1942) by Ansel Adams
Snake River watershed map.png
Map of the Snake River watershed
Other name(s) Lewis River, Shoshone River, Mad River, Saptin River, Yam-pah-pa, Lewis Fork
Country United States
State Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Washington
Region Pacific Northwest
Cities Jackson, WY, Idaho Falls, ID, Blackfoot, ID, American Falls, ID, Burley, ID, Twin Falls, ID, Ontario, OR, Lewiston, ID, Clarkston, WA, Tri-Cities, WA
Physical characteristics
Main source Rocky Mountains
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
8,927 ft (2,721 m)
44°7′49″N 110°13′10″W / 44.13028°N 110.21944°W / 44.13028; -110.21944
River mouth Columbia River at Lake Wallula
Franklin / Walla Walla counties, near Burbank, Washington
358 ft (109 m)
46°11′10″N 119°1′43″W / 46.18611°N 119.02861°W / 46.18611; -119.02861
Length 1,078 mi (1,735 km)
Basin features
Basin size 108,000 sq mi (280,000 km2)
Tributaries
Type: Wild 268.4 miles (431.9 km)
Scenic 177.5 miles (285.7 km)
Recreational 33.8 miles (54.4 km)
Reference #: P.L. 94-199; P.L. 111-11

The Snake River is a river in the U.S. states of Wyoming, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. It is a tributary of the Columbia River. The river rises in western Wyoming, and flows through the Snake River Plain in Idaho. It turns north, forming the border with Oregon and Idaho, and the border with Washington and Idaho. At Lewiston it turns west and flows through Washington to the Columbia River.

The Shoshone and Nez Perce Indians lived on the Snake River. The Lewis and Clark Expedition was the first American expedition to sight the Snake River. The river later was part of the Oregon Trail. Many pioneers traveled down the river to settle in the fertile Willamette Valley in Oregon.

There are fifteen dams on the Snake River. Some are for hydropower, some for irrigation, and some for navigation.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Río Snake para niños

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