Willapa River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Willapa River |
|
|---|---|
 Location of the mouth of the Willapa River in Washington
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Pacific |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Willapa Hills Washington 46°29′50″N 123°24′47″W / 46.49722°N 123.41306°W |
| River mouth | Willapa Bay Washington 0 ft (0 m) 46°42′27″N 123°51′2″W / 46.70750°N 123.85056°W |
| Length | 20 mi (32 km) |
The Willapa River is a cool river located on the Pacific coast in southwestern Washington, United States. It's about 20 miles (32 km) long. This river helps drain water from low hills and flat coastal areas. All this water flows into Willapa Bay. This bay is a large estuary, which is where a river meets the sea. It's found north of the mouth of the Columbia River.
The Willapa River starts in the Willapa Hills. These hills are in the southeastern part of Pacific County. This is about 25 miles (40 km) west of a town called Chehalis. The river then flows northwest in a winding, curvy path. It passes by small towns like Willapa and Raymond. Finally, it reaches the northwest end of Willapa Bay near South Bend.
River's Name and History
The name of the Willapa River comes from the Willapa people. They were a group of Native Americans who spoke an Athapaskan language. These people used to live in the valley of this river. They also lived in the open grassy areas between the beginnings of the Chehalis and Cowlitz Rivers. Sadly, this group of people is now extinct.
Scientists have found very old fossils in the Willapa River area. These fossils are from the Miocene period. This period was millions of years ago!
