Cowichan River - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Cowichan River is a moderately sized river

River

A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...

in British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. It originates in Cowichan Lake, flowing east towards its end at Cowichan Bay. Its drainage basin

Drainage basin

A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...

is 795 square kilometres (307 sq mi) in size.

Shortly after exiting Cowichan Lake, the river drops over Skutz Falls

Skutz Falls

Skutz Falls is a waterfall on the Cowichan River on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. It is located just above Marie Canyon. The name was originally Skwets or Squitz, meaning "waterfall" in the Cowichan dialect of Halkomelem....

, a small waterfall

Waterfall

A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...

that is often visited when fish are climbing the fish ladder constructed beside the falls. Below the falls, in the summer time, are some great swimming areas. A ways downstream from that the river flows through Marie Canyon

Marie Canyon

Marie Canyon is a canyon on the Cowichan River, just below Skutz Falls, on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.The canyon is named for Marie Adelaide, Viscountess Willingdon, C.I., G.B.E. , commemorating her canoe trip from Cowichan Lake down the Cowichan River to Duncan on April 7,...

, a popular kayaking

Kayaking

Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...

run. When tubing down the river it is critical to get out and walk around the rapids at Marie canyon, which are not very clearly marked. If you see a yellow sign, get out immediately.

The river is widely considered one of the finest trout

Trout

Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...

fishing

Fishing

Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....

streams in British Columbia. The Cowichan River is the centre of a provincial park

Provincial park

A provincial park is a park under the management of a provincial or territorial government in Canada.While provincial parks are not the same as national parks, their workings are very similar...

, the Cowichan River Provincial Park

Cowichan River Provincial Park

Cowichan River Provincial Park is a provincial park in British Columbia, Canada....

, on southern Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...

. The park area is home to hundreds of animal species: small and large mammals, including the native Vancouver Island ermine, an endangered species

Endangered species

An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...

, and more than two hundred species of birds.

Cowichan River is a popular tourist destination. Traveling down the river in inflatable tubes is a popular activity. Unfortunately, many humans discard alcoholic beverage containers into the river. The environmental influences of bio-degrading aluminum cans is adverse.

The Cowichan River was nominated as a Canadian Heritage River

Canadian Heritage Rivers System

The Canadian Heritage Rivers System was established in 1984 by the federal, provincial and territorial governments to conserve and protect the best examples of Canada's river heritage, to give them national recognition, and to encourage the public to enjoy and appreciate them. It is a cooperative...

in 1999 and designated in 2003. The river is also the namesake of Cowichan Herald Extraordinary

Cowichan Herald Extraordinary

Cowichan Herald of Arms Extraordinary is the title of one of the officers of arms at the Canadian Heraldic Authority in Ottawa. Herald Extraordinary is an honorary position reserved for people who have made notable contributions to Canadian heraldry...

at the Canadian Heraldic Authority

Canadian Heraldic Authority

The Canadian Heraldic Authority is part of the Canadian honours system under the Queen of Canada, whose authority is exercised by the Governor General. The Authority is responsible for the creation and granting of new coats of arms , flags and badges for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and...

See also