White River (Nevada) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White River |
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The White River running through Murphy Meadows near Sunnyside
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The White River (northwest portion of map) is bordered on three sides by endorheic basins of the Great Basin.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | Muddy River |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Colorado River Basin |
The White River is a river in southeastern Nevada, USA. It is about 138 miles (222 kilometers) long. This river is special because it is home to several types of fish found nowhere else in the world. The river got its name from F. A. White, an explorer from the 1800s.
Where the River Flows
The White River starts high up in the White Pine Range. This area is near Ely. The water comes from melting snow and springs on Currant Mountain. It flows south through the White River Valley for about 40 miles (64 kilometers).
Along its path, the river passes by the towns of Preston and Lund. It gets more water from springs on the sides of the Grant Range and the Egan Range. The river also fills several reservoirs near Sunnyside. The biggest of these is Adams-McGill Reservoir. You can often see the river from State Route 318, which runs next to it.
Sometimes, the riverbed is dry for a while. Then, the water appears again in the Pahranagat Valley. It flows for about 30 miles (48 kilometers) through this valley. Here, it passes near Hiko, Crystal Springs, and Alamo.
The river feeds Upper Pahranagat Lake and the marshy areas around it. These lakes and marshes are part of the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge. The river channel then continues into Coyote Springs Valley. This part of the river is called the Pahranagat Wash. Finally, it connects to the Muddy River, which flows into Lake Mead.
Many of the springs that feed the White River are now used to water crops. Some of these springs are quite warm, with temperatures over 100°F (38°C).
Amazing Fish of the White River
The White River system is home to several special kinds of fish. These fish are endemic, meaning they are found only in this river system and nowhere else in the world!
Here are some of the unique fish species:
- White River Colorado gila (Gila robusta jordani)
- White River speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus velifer)
- White River spinedace (Lepidomeda albivallis) - This fish is very rare. In 1993, fewer than 50 of them were left.
- Pahranagat spinedace (Lepidomeda altivelis)
- White River springfish (Crenichthys baileyi)
Another fish named after this area is the White River mountainsucker (Pantosteus intermedius).
