Kootenay River

Catchment area of the river

Kootenay River in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia

The Kootenay River, in the United States Kootenai River is a 780 km (508 km of which in British Columbia) long left tributary of the Columbia River in the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. states of Montana and Idaho. It drains an area of ​​50,300 km ² ( 37,700 km ² of it in Canada) and has a mean discharge rate of 868 m³ / s Its name goes back to the Kutenai or Ktunaxa based here.

Course

The Kootenay River originates in Kootenay National Park in the Rocky Mountains of eastern British Columbia. He then flows south to the United States. In Wardner, British Columbia, he then flows into the artificial lake Lake Koocanusa, which lies near the border between Canada and the United States. A little later he crossed the border and takes the rivers Fisher River, Yaak River and Moyie River on. In Creston, British Columbia, he crosses the border to Canada and flows into the Kootenay Lake. When Nelson leaving back the lake and then flows to the southwest. In Castlegar he finally empties into the Columbia River.

Plans for river diversion

In the 1970s, it was suggested the Kootenay River to divert the Rocky Mountain Trench in the Columbia Lake, from the Columbia River rises. Near Fairmont Hot Springs and Canal Flats the Kootenay River flows past namely at a distance of only about a mile from Columbia Lake. A diversion of the Kootenay would have provided higher energy of the dams on the Columbia River. The project, however, was heavily criticized by environmentalists and residents of the region because of possible flooding and damage to tourism.

Since the Kootenay glacier water transported from the mountains, would be greatly decreased firstly, the temperature of the Columbia. The Columbia Lake and the river downstream Windermere Lake are popular with swimmers and boaters, so considerable disadvantages for tourism were feared. Secondly, the risk of flooding would have increased by the higher amounts of water. Therefore, the project was never enforced.

Tributaries

Left: Vermilion River, Palliser River, White River, Bull River, Elk River, Fisher River

Rights: St. Mary River, Yaak River, Moyie River, Goat River, Duncan River, Slocan River

Trivia

The 35-minute drive by car ferry on the Kootenay Lake between Balfour and Kootenay Bay is considered "the longest free ferry ride " in the world.