Where is the Fraser River? What cities are located on its banks? Why is it interesting and remarkable? Our article will answer all these questions.
Fraser River: description and general information
Canada is a country of virgin forests, lakes with crystal clear waters and beautiful rivers. One of the many streams flowing through its territory is the Fraser River. And our story is about her.
The river originates on the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains, within Mount Robson Park. This is the main natural watercourse of British Columbia, one of the provinces of Canada. The Fraser River Basin is located in the western part of the country. A small part of it (about 1%) is located in the United States.
The total length of the river reaches 1370 kilometers. At first, the Fraser flows calmly and measuredly to the northwest along a winding and narrow channel. Near the city of Prince George, the river abruptly changes its direction to the south, after which it receives several full-flowing tributaries. The speed of the current gradually increases, and the height of the banks reaches 80-100 meters in places. In the middle reaches, the Fraser enters a rather deep canyon. In the lower reaches, the river turns sharply to the west and flows into the Strait of Georgia,forming a vast delta.
Frazer is replenished mainly by rain and melt water. The flood lasts from May to September. The river carries a huge amount of solid sediment into the Pacific Ocean (up to 20 million tons annually).
The river and its banks were explored in detail at the beginning of the 19th century by the Canadian traveler and merchant Simon Fraser. This watercourse was later named after him. There are a number of cities on the banks of the Fraser River: Prince George, Quesnell, Hope, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Vancouver and Richmond.
Canyon in British Columbia
In the middle reaches, the Fraser River Valley is as picturesque as possible. It is here that nature has formed a beautiful canyon.
The Trans-Canada Highway and the Pacific Railroad pass near Fraser Canyon. These major highways of the country are "inscribed" in the rocky walls of the canyon, which is crossed by bridges in many places.
In the vicinity of the town of Boston Bar, the banks of the Fraser River Valley reach a height of a thousand meters! This section of the canyon received the exotic name "Hell's Gate". Most likely, this nickname appeared due to the local rocks, which turn black during every heavy rain. Today, lifts operate here, delivering numerous tourists to the foot of the Hell Gate.
Fishing features
This river is very respected and loved by fishermen. Why? You can see an eloquent answer in the next photo.
The Fraser River is one of the most popular fishingplaces in Canada. Its ichthyofauna is unusually rich and diverse. Between July and November, the waters of the river are literally overflowing with salmon. The weight of individual fish reaches 40 kg! No other watercourse in America has as many salmon as the Fraser River, researchers say.
Another of its inhabitants is the white sturgeon. This is the largest fish that can be caught with a rod. The length of her body reaches 5-6 meters. The white sturgeon population in Fraser waters is large and stable. The ideal time to catch it is autumn (September-November).
