American River

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American River
American River catchment area

American River catchment area

Data
Water code US :  254562
location California (USA)
River system Sacramento River
Drain over Sacramento River  → Pacific Ocean
source of North Fork and South Fork in Folsom Lake
38 ° 42 ′ 36 ″  N , 121 ° 9 ′ 29 ″  W
Source height 143  m
muzzle near Sacramento in the Sacramento River coordinates: 38 ° 35 ′ 51 ″  N , 121 ° 30 ′ 29 ″  W 38 ° 35 ′ 51 ″  N , 121 ° 30 ′ 29 ″  W.
Mouth height 7  m
Height difference 136 m
Bottom slope 2.8 ‰
length 48 km
Reservoirs flowed through Folsom Lake
Big cities Sacramento
National Wild and Scenic River
Lower reaches on the outskirts of Sacramento

Lower reaches on the outskirts of Sacramento

Middle Fork American River
Water code US :  263517
location California (USA)
River system Sacramento River
Drain over North Fork American River  → American River  → Sacramento River  → Pacific Ocean
source near Emigrant Pass
39 ° 11 ′ 39 ″  N , 120 ° 16 ′ 49 ″  W.
muzzle North Fork American River
38 ° 54 ′ 55 "  N , 121 ° 2 ′ 14"  W.
Mouth height 164  m

length 105 km
Left tributaries Rubicon River
North Fork American River
Water code US :  267066
location California (USA)
River system Sacramento River
Drain over American River → Sacramento River  → Pacific Ocean
source Mountain Meadow Lake
39 ° 13 ′ 4 ″  N , 120 ° 16 ′ 28 ″  W.
Source height 2415  m
muzzle Folsom Lake
38 ° 42 ′ 42 "  N , 121 ° 8 ′ 44"  W.
Mouth height 143  m
Height difference 2272 m
Bottom slope 17 ‰
length 137 km
Left tributaries Middle Fork American River
Reservoirs flowed through North Fork Lake
National Wild and Scenic River
Silver Fork American River
Water code US :  267248
location California (USA)
River system Sacramento River
Drain over South Fork American River  → American River  → Sacramento River  → Pacific Ocean
source south of Silver Lake in Amador County
38 ° 37 ′ 59 ″  N , 120 ° 5 ′ 30 ″  W
Source height 2214  m
muzzle South Fork American River
38 ° 46 ′ 3 ″  N , 120 ° 18 ′ 58 ″  W.
Mouth height 1197  m
Height difference 1017 m
Bottom slope 32 ‰
length 32 km
Reservoirs flowed through Silver Lake
South Fork American River
Water code US :  1654958
location California (USA)
River system Sacramento River
Drain over American River → Sacramento River  → Pacific Ocean
source at Echo Lake
38 ° 48 ′ 38 ″  N , 120 ° 1 ′ 52 ″  W.
Source height 2282  m
muzzle Folsom Lake
38 ° 46 '22 "  N , 121 ° 2' 54"  W.
Mouth height 143  m
Height difference 2139 m
Bottom slope 15 ‰
length 145 km
Left tributaries Silver Fork American River
Reservoirs flowed through Slab Creek Reservoir

The American River is a left tributary of the Sacramento River in northern California , United States . Its three headwaters North Fork , Middle Fork and South Fork arise in the northern Sierra Nevada west of Lake Tahoe . The Middle Fork flows into the North Fork, the two remaining arms unite in Folsom in today Reservoir Folsom Lake . The actual American River flows out of this before flowing into the Sacramento River after 48 km in a southwestern direction in the center of the Californian capital Sacramento .

The arms of the spring are already dammed in the mountains to generate electricity and drinking water . Folsom Lake, which is formed by the Folsom Dam , built in 1955 and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation , is the largest reservoir on the river with an area of ​​46 km 2 . The Folsom Powerhouse , which was built in 1895 and supplied the first electrical power for the California capital, is located on a historic side canal in the city of Folsom .

In January 1848 the carpenter James W. Marshall built the sawmill Sutter's Mill on behalf of the landowner Johann August Sutter in the valley of the South Fork of the American River near Coloma and discovered gold nuggets in the river bed. He started the California gold rush .

In addition to hydropower and drinking water, the American River is used for recreational purposes. All spring arms are outstanding whitewater areas . The river becomes calmer below Folsom, along which the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail , named after the trapper and fur trader Jedediah Smith , runs for 50 km , a combined hiking, riding and mountain biking trail. Large parts of the riparian zones are designated as American River Parkways , are used for recreational purposes and connect historically and scenic points.

A stretch of river 37 km above the mouth of the American River is recognized as a National Wild and Scenic River in the "recreational" category.

The 137 km long North Fork American River is also protected as a National Wild and Scenic River . 61 river kilometers are classified as "wild" ("white water").

The Middle Fork American River flows into the North Fork and has a length of 105 km.

The South Fork American River has its origin in Echo Lake . It is 145 km long and meets the North Fork in Folsom Lake .

The Silver Fork American River has its source south of Silver Lake in Amador County . From there it flows in a north-westerly direction over 32 km to the South Fork . The silver fork is popular with fly fishermen. Brown trout are typically caught here.

Name variants

The river has had different names in several languages ​​over time:

  • American fork
  • Rio De Los Americanos
  • Rio Ojotska
  • Wild River

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c North Fork American River in the Geographic Names Information System of the United States Geological Survey
  2. ^ A b American River in the Geographic Names Information System of the United States Geological Survey
  3. ↑ Middle Fork American River in the Geographic Names Information System of the United States Geological Survey
  4. ^ Silver Fork American River in the Geographic Names Information System of the United States Geological Survey
  5. ↑ National Wild & Scenic Rivers - American River (Lower) ( Memento from September 15, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
  6. ↑ National Wild & Scenic Rivers - North Fork of the American River ( Memento from October 15, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  7. ↑ American Fly Fishing Co.- Silver Fork American River
  8. ↑ Eldorado National Forest - Silver Fork American River