Kechika River
Encyclopedia
The Kechika River also historically known as Black's River, is a tributary
of the Liard River
, located in northern British Columbia
, Canada
. The river rises at the Sifton Pass
and flows northwest and then east 230 kilometres to join with the Liard River
near Fireside, British Columbia. The river drops approximately 610 metres in elevation and drains a total area of close to 2,700 square kilometres. The river winds its way through an impressive wilderness area in the northern boreal mountains, including the Kechika Ranges
(a subdivision of the Cassiar Mountains
) and Western Muskwa Ranges
(which are part of the northernmost Canadian Rockies
), and forms part of the boundary between the Rockies the Cassiars
in the portion of its course through the Rocky Mountain Trench
, and winds through the Liard Plain in its lowermost, northern reaches. Along with a number of waterfalls and lakes associated with the river, landscape features important to wildlife such as mineral licks can be found along its course.
The river is ecologically significant insofar as it remains largely undisturbed by resource extraction. It has been designated as a heritage river by the British Columbia government, conveying certain protections. Part of the river flows through the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area
.
The first European known to have visited the river is Samuel Black
in 1824. The river was originally named "Black's River."
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Liard River
Liard River
The Liard River flows through Yukon, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, Canada. Rising in the Saint Cyr Range of the Pelly Mountains in southeastern Yukon, it flows southeast through British Columbia, marking the northern end of the Rocky Mountains and then curving northeast back...
, located in northern 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...
. The river rises at the Sifton Pass
Sifton Pass
Sifton Pass, 1012 m , is a mountain pass in the Rocky Mountain Trench in the Northern Interior of British Columbia, Canada, forming the divide between the Fox and Kechika Rivers, and therefore between the drainage basins of the Finlay and Liard Rivers...
and flows northwest and then east 230 kilometres to join with the Liard River
Liard River
The Liard River flows through Yukon, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories, Canada. Rising in the Saint Cyr Range of the Pelly Mountains in southeastern Yukon, it flows southeast through British Columbia, marking the northern end of the Rocky Mountains and then curving northeast back...
near Fireside, British Columbia. The river drops approximately 610 metres in elevation and drains a total area of close to 2,700 square kilometres. The river winds its way through an impressive wilderness area in the northern boreal mountains, including the Kechika Ranges
Kechika Ranges
The Kechika Ranges are a subrange of the Cassiar Mountains subdivision of the Interior Mountains in far northern British Columbia, Canada, lying west of the Rocky Mountain Trench between the Rainbow and Deadwood Rivers .-References:*...
(a subdivision of the Cassiar Mountains
Cassiar Mountains
The Cassiar Mountains are the most northerly group of the Northern Interior Mountains in the Canadian province of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. They lie north and west of the Omineca Mountains, west of the northernmost Rockies and the Rocky Mountain Trench, north of the Hazelton...
) and Western Muskwa Ranges
Muskwa Ranges
The Muskwa Ranges are a group of mountain ranges in northern British Columbia, Canada. They are part of the Northern Rockies section of the Rocky Mountains and are bounded on their west by the Rocky Mountain Trench and on their east by the Rocky Mountain Foothills...
(which are part of the northernmost Canadian Rockies
Canadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, extending from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA...
), and forms part of the boundary between the Rockies the Cassiars
Cassiar Mountains
The Cassiar Mountains are the most northerly group of the Northern Interior Mountains in the Canadian province of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. They lie north and west of the Omineca Mountains, west of the northernmost Rockies and the Rocky Mountain Trench, north of the Hazelton...
in the portion of its course through the Rocky Mountain Trench
Rocky Mountain Trench
The Rocky Mountain Trench, or the Trench or The Valley of a Thousand Peaks, is a large valley in the northern part of the Rocky Mountains. It is both visually and cartographically a striking physiographic feature extending approximately from Flathead Lake, Montana, to the Liard River, just south...
, and winds through the Liard Plain in its lowermost, northern reaches. Along with a number of waterfalls and lakes associated with the river, landscape features important to wildlife such as mineral licks can be found along its course.
The river is ecologically significant insofar as it remains largely undisturbed by resource extraction. It has been designated as a heritage river by the British Columbia government, conveying certain protections. Part of the river flows through the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area
Muskwa-Kechika Management Area
The Muskwa-Kechika Management Area is provincially-run tract of land in the far north of British Columbia. It has an advisory board that advises the government on land-use decisions. Established by provincial government legislation in 1998, the area is meant to be preserved as a wild area, but...
.
The first European known to have visited the river is Samuel Black
Samuel Black
Samuel Black was a Canadian fur trader and explorer noted for his exploration of the Finlay River and its tributaries in present-day north-central British Columbia, which helped to open up the Muskwa, Omineca, and Stikine areas to the fur trade; as well for his role as Chief factor of the Hudson's...
in 1824. The river was originally named "Black's River."
External links
- http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/heritage_rivers_program/bc_rivers/kechika_river.html - Description of the Kechika River from the British ColumbiaBritish ColumbiaBritish 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...
Ministry of Environment's heritage rivers website. - http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/denetiah.htm - Website for Denetiah Park, a 980 km² park on the Kechika River administered by the British Columbia Environment Ministry.