White River (British Columbia)

The White River is a major headwaters tributary of the Kootenay River in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. The river is 65 kilometres (40 mi) long and drains an isolated area of the Canadian Rockies east of the village of Canal Flats.

White River
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
DistrictKootenay Land District
Physical characteristics
SourceSylvan Pass
  locationHeight of the Rockies Provincial Park
  coordinates50°31′05″N 115°13′40″W
  elevation2,360 m (7,740 ft)
MouthKootenay River
  location
25 kilometres (16 mi) northeast of Canal Flats
  coordinates
50°21′10″N 115°37′32″W
  elevation
915 m (3,002 ft)
Length65 km (40 mi)
Basin size987 km2 (381 sq mi)
Discharge 
  average17.5 m3/s (620 cu ft/s)[1]
  maximum103 m3/s (3,600 cu ft/s)

It rises at Sylvan Pass, in a precipitous glacial basin in Height of the Rockies Provincial Park. It flows southwards through a deep valley along the Park Ranges, then swings southwest to receive the North Fork from the right. The river then makes a broad northwestward curve around the south flank of Flett Peak, passing Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park. It then flows generally north-northwest, emptying into the Kootenay on the left bank.

The White is a large, steep, fast flowing glacial river and can be up to 60 metres (200 ft) wide as it nears the mouth. The river's drainage basin of some 987 square kilometres (381 sq mi) consists almost entirely of virgin forest. There are no bridges, diversions or dams.

See also

References

  1. "White River near Canal Flats". HYDAT. Environment Canada. 1940–1948. Retrieved 2010-12-21.
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