Upper Salmon River facts for kids
The Upper Salmon River is a special river in New Brunswick, Canada. It flows right between Fundy National Park and a small village called Alma, New Brunswick. Where the river meets the ocean, it's called a delta. Here, the ocean's tide comes far up the river, creating a special area called an estuary. An estuary is where fresh river water mixes with salty ocean water. This area is full of life! The river also has many smaller streams and rivers that flow into it, like Kinnie Brook, Laverty River, and Forty-five River.
This river is part of a bigger area called the Chignecto Bay North Watershed. This whole region is special because UNESCO (a part of the United Nations) has recognized it as a "Man and the Biosphere" area. This means it's a place where people are trying to find a good balance between nature and human activities. The river is also part of the much larger Gulf of Maine watershed.
River's Name and History
The name "Salmon River" might seem simple, but it caused some confusion a long time ago! There was more than one "Salmon River" in the area, some just a few miles apart. This made it tricky for people to claim land along the river. The problem was eventually solved in court.
Today, the river is also sometimes called the Alma River. The village of Alma and the river were both named "Salmon River" in the past. But in 1856, the area became its own parish (a type of local district) called Alma Parish. It was named after a battle in the Crimean War, a big war that happened around that time.
Amazing River Ecosystems
The areas where the river meets the tide are incredibly full of life! These "inter-tidal zones" are thought to be some of the most productive places on Earth. This means they create a lot of food and support many different plants and animals.
Scientists are currently studying and tracking fish like Atlantic Salmon and American Eels here. They want to learn more about these amazing fish and where they live. Both salmon and eels are "anadromous" fish. This means they live in both fresh water and salt water during their lives. Salmon are born in fresh water, go to the ocean, and then return to fresh water to lay their eggs. Eels do the opposite!
Along the river and its smaller streams, you'll find tall, thick Acadian forests. These forests grow in the steep, rocky valleys of the river.
