Swan River (Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Swan River |
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|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Presque Isle County, Michigan 45°18′15″N 83°50′24″W / 45.3041°N 83.8399°W |
| River mouth | Lake Huron, Michigan 45°23′32″N 83°44′06″W / 45.3922°N 83.7349°W |
| Length | 17.3 mi (27.8 km) |
The Swan River is a river in Presque Isle County, Michigan, in the United States. It is about 17.3-mile-long (27.8 km), which is like driving for about 20 minutes. Even though it's not a very long river, it's a really important home for many fish, especially salmon!
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Where Does the Swan River Start and End?
The Swan River begins in a wet, marshy area called a swamp. This swamp is located in Presque Isle County, Michigan, near small towns like Belknap and Hawks. Swamps are special places with lots of water, trees, and plants.
The River's Journey
From its start, the Swan River flows mostly towards the northeast. It winds its way through the land, passing between the areas where water drains into two other rivers: the Trout River and the Little Trout River. An area where all the rain and snow drain into a specific river is called a watershed.
Before the Swan River reaches its final destination, it flows into a small body of water called Swan Lake. This lake is close to a big limestone quarry called Calcite.
Joining Lake Huron
Finally, the Swan River empties into Lake Huron. Lake Huron is one of the five huge Great Lakes in North America! The river joins Lake Huron in a small bay, which is a part of the lake that curves inward.
A Home for Salmon
You can't use boats on the Swan River because it's not very wide or deep. But even though it's not used for boating, it's a super important place for fish to live and grow.
Salmon Habitat
The Swan River is a special home for salmon. Salmon are amazing fish that are born in fresh water, travel to the ocean or a large lake, and then return to the same fresh water to lay their eggs.
People help the river by adding hundreds of thousands of chinook salmon to it every year. This helps make sure there are always plenty of salmon in the river. In the 1980s, other types of fish like coho salmon and lake trout were also added to the river. This makes the Swan River a lively place for fish!
