American River
American River | ||
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 |
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
- Canoeing on the American River
- American River Parkway with links to other tourist attractions on the river
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c North Fork American River in the Geographic Names Information System of the United States Geological Survey
- ^ A b American River in the Geographic Names Information System of the United States Geological Survey
- ↑ Middle Fork American River in the Geographic Names Information System of the United States Geological Survey
- ^ Silver Fork American River in the Geographic Names Information System of the United States Geological Survey
- ↑ National Wild & Scenic Rivers - American River (Lower) ( Memento from September 15, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ National Wild & Scenic Rivers - North Fork of the American River ( Memento from October 15, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ American Fly Fishing Co.- Silver Fork American River
- ↑ Eldorado National Forest - Silver Fork American River