Waatch River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Waatch River |
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 Location of the mouth of the Waatch River in Washington
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| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Clallam |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Olympic Mountains 48°17′12″N 124°35′25″W / 48.28667°N 124.59028°W |
| River mouth | Pacific Ocean 48°20′37″N 124°40′31″W / 48.34361°N 124.67528°W |
The Waatch River is a stream located on the Olympic Peninsula in the state of Washington, USA. It starts high up in the northwestern Olympic Mountains. From there, it flows all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The name "Waatch" comes from the Makah people. It means something like "bundling up cedar to make a torch." This name tells us about the history and culture of the area.
Where the Waatch River Flows
The Waatch River begins its journey in the northwestern part of the Olympic Peninsula. This area is part of the Makah Reservation, which is land belonging to the Makah Native American tribe.
River's Path to the Ocean
The river first flows north for several miles. It gets quite close to a town called Neah Bay. Along its way, another smaller stream, Educket Creek, joins the Waatch River. After this, the Waatch River changes direction and turns west.
Finally, the river empties into the Pacific Ocean. This happens at the northern end of Makah Bay. This spot is south of Waatch Point and Cape Flattery. It is also about a mile north of where the Sooes River meets the ocean. You can find the Makah Air Force Station right at the mouth of the Waatch River.
