South Fork Merced River
Encyclopedia
The South Fork Merced River is the largest tributary
of the Merced River
. Most of the river flows within Yosemite National Park
in the Sierra Nevada of California
. The river is 43 miles (69.2 km) long, and its drainage basin
covers about 240 mi2, of which 109 mi2 are in the national park. The average flow at the mouth is 356 cuft/s.
Originating at about 10600 feet (3,230.9 m) on the south flank of Triple Divide Peak, the South Fork initially runs southwest through a pine forest flanked by granite
cliffs until the valley walls close in to become a deep canyon as the river turns west. This canyon comes to an end at a large bowl-shaped valley where the river passes the north side of Wawona
and receives Chilnualna Creek from the right. After passing under Wawona Road (the south entrance road to the national park) the river drops into another broader, deeper gorge running north, receiving Alder, Rail, Big, and Bishop Creeks, all from the right. Soon the river turns west, crossing the boundary of Yosemite National Park and the Sierra National Forest
and entering the foothills
of the Sierra Nevada, and merges with the Merced River some 25 miles (40.2 km) downstream of the end of Yosemite Valley
.
The river was mislabelled "Illilouette Creek" on 1871 California Geological Survey reports. Illilouette Creek is actually another tributary of the Merced River further to the east.
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 Merced River
Merced River
The Merced River , in the central part of the U.S. state of California, is a -long tributary of the San Joaquin River flowing from the Sierra Nevada into the Central Valley. It is most well known for its swift and steep course through the southern part of Yosemite National Park, and the...
. Most of the river flows within Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain...
in the Sierra Nevada of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The river is 43 miles (69.2 km) long, and 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...
covers about 240 mi2, of which 109 mi2 are in the national park. The average flow at the mouth is 356 cuft/s.
Originating at about 10600 feet (3,230.9 m) on the south flank of Triple Divide Peak, the South Fork initially runs southwest through a pine forest flanked by granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
cliffs until the valley walls close in to become a deep canyon as the river turns west. This canyon comes to an end at a large bowl-shaped valley where the river passes the north side of Wawona
Wawona, California
Wawona is a census-designated place in Mariposa County, California. It is located east of Mariposa, at an elevation of 3999 feet...
and receives Chilnualna Creek from the right. After passing under Wawona Road (the south entrance road to the national park) the river drops into another broader, deeper gorge running north, receiving Alder, Rail, Big, and Bishop Creeks, all from the right. Soon the river turns west, crossing the boundary of Yosemite National Park and the Sierra National Forest
Sierra National Forest
Sierra National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located on the western slope of central Sierra Nevada in the state of California. The forest is known for its mountain scenery and natural resources. Forest headquarters are located in Clovis, California...
and entering the foothills
Foothills
Foothills are geographically defined as gradual increases in elevation at the base of a mountain range. They are a transition zone between plains and low relief hills to the adjacent topographically high mountains.-Examples:...
of the Sierra Nevada, and merges with the Merced River some 25 miles (40.2 km) downstream of the end of Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Valley is a glacial valley in Yosemite National Park in the western Sierra Nevada mountains of California, carved out by the Merced River. The valley is about long and up to a mile deep, surrounded by high granite summits such as Half Dome and El Capitan, and densely forested with pines...
.
The river was mislabelled "Illilouette Creek" on 1871 California Geological Survey reports. Illilouette Creek is actually another tributary of the Merced River further to the east.