Home > Fraser River

The Fraser River is the longest river of British Columbia in Canada, rising in the Rocky Mountains near Mount Robson flowing for 1400 km (870 mi), into the Pacific Ocean at the city of Vancouver.

The Fraser drains a 220,000 km² area. Its source is just below Mount Edith Cavell, and for the first part of its course it runs northwest, past Mount Robson, reaching past 54° north before making a sharp turn to the south. At the town of Prince George it is joined by the Nechako River , then continues south and slightly east until just north of the United States border, passing through the Coast Mountains in a deep canyon. It then turns west, passing by Chilliwack and then forming a large delta where it empties into the Strait of Georgia between the mainland and Vancouver Island. The city of Vancouver, its suburb Burnaby, and other smaller towns all sit on the flat land of the delta. The river's volume at its mouth is 112 km³ each year, and it dumps 20 million tons of sediment into the Pacific.

The upper reaches were first explored by Sir Alexander Mackenzie in 1793Events January 2 Russia and Prussia partition Poland January 9 Jean-Pierre Blanchard becomes the first to fly in a balloon in the United States. January 21 After being found guilty of treason by the French Convention, "Citizen Capet" ie. Louis XVI of Fran, and fully traced by Simon FraserSimon Fraser ( 1776- 1862) was a fur trader and an explorer who charted much of what is now the Canadian province of British Columbia. He was born in Bennington, Vermont U. and moved to Canada as a child with his family. Fraser became a fur trader for the in 1807Events February Napoleon attacks Russia February 8 Battle of Eylau Napoleon defeats Russians under General Benigssen February 19 In Alabama, Former Vice President of the United States Aaron Burr is arrested for treason. March 2 The United States Congress, who established that it was not connected with the Columbia RiverColumbia River Gorge, Washington or North side The Columbia River is the largest river in volume flowing into the Pacific Ocean from North America. Its headwaters are located in the Canadian Rockies of British Columbia, and it flows through the east-centr.

The Fraser is heavily exploited by humans, especially in its lower reaches. Its banks are rich farmland, its water is used by pulp mill s, and a few dams on some tributaries provide hydroelectric power. The main flow of the Fraser has never been dammed.

Tributaries:

• Chilcotin River
• Nechako River
• Quesnel River
• Thompson RiverThe Thompson River is a major tributary of the Fraser River in the south-central portion of British Columbia, Canada. The Thompson River has two main branches called the South Thompson and the North Thompson . The river is named for Columbia River explore
• West Road River

External link

• Map and photographs