river historically called major river southeastern british_columbia canada northern parts states montana idaho major tributaries largest north american river pacific_ocean runs kilometres canadian flowing british_columbia region northwestern montana northernmost returning british_columbia region joins columbia born glaciers flowing rugged landscape mountains valleys river drains isolated sparsely populated region pacific_northwest highest confluence falls kilometers elevation comparable length watershed discharge columbia notably different character gradient results formation people tribe live banks hundreds years hunted river isolated neighboring indigenous groups 19th century canadian explorer recorded european reach established trading posts region gold rush later silver strikes western basins late 19th century drew thousands miners settlers region soon followed arrival railroads russian religious sect immigrated established short lived colony brilliant mouth subsequently settlements contributed region lumber agricultural industries pacific_northwest rivers dams built 20th century generate protect floods today kilometres river dams sixth raise level largest natural lake formed largest british_columbia river described slightly different names groups local indian tribes indigenous people lived upper river knew simply meaning river people lower river called meaning certain river comes powerful stylish bows later recorded french canadian fur traders searching ultimate source explorer encountered columbia lake starts north small stream rushes south powerful river knowing earlier maps region included rivers called columbia thompson thought called columbia thought found real applied river real honor trading partners william writings columbia columbia lake actually called french canadians refer 19th century thought word meaning water people language river referred united_states canada thirds length percent drainage basin lies river spelled slightly different comparisons geological survey maps 20th century alternative names applied segment river united_states include lists swan river alternate origin uncertain southeast montana course rises northeast slopes southeastern british_columbia flows initially southeast valleys national park kilometers miles quiet slowly series marshes small lakes river significantly enlarged reaches confluence actually larger meet near settlement continues southeast receiving left swings southwards gorge confluence small town british_columbia passes kilometres columbia lake merges eastern foothills receives near station mary wild horse rivers historic mining town settlement british_columbia widens lake reservoir formed kilometres downstream montana lake fed larger tributaries spans border river known south known receives left west passing city drops gorge northwest town join north british_columbia near village crosses montana idaho state line idaho current significantly enters passing city ferry turns north enters canada south british_columbia enters flats kilometre largest tributary contributes waters near arm lake branches westwards near nelson dam river long river drops taken advantage generate run river dams river kilometre stretch follows brilliant widens small inland delta joins watershed square kilometres size river watershed largest sub basins drainage basin encompasses area kilometres north south kilometres east west roughly defining region pacific northwest known canada term loosely defined includes region formally defined indirectly refers territory indigenous people spanning east west southeastern british_columbia mean area drained including lower canadian stretches columbia border reaches upper columbia north far golden referred percent watershed canada montana idaho portions occupy respectively major rivers north_america begin country cross return include tributary tributary tributary largest tributary columbia drainage basin discharge defined rocky steep mountains relatively little flat land watershed reasonably level terrain lies narrow valley ferry parts mountain ranges region generally trend northwest southeast define drainage patterns steep dramatic vertical relief exception cuts westwards southern bend tributaries kilometre largest hundreds tributaries join river winding course including white fisher goat rivers river basins border drain distant shores north american continent south southeast divide formed cabinet ranges separate tributary system borders watershed southwest upper basin forms boundary north kicking horse river watershed borders north basin southwest tributary east continental divide rise tributaries drainage basin geology story strongly connected geology columbia rocky_mountains mountains composed rock turn slightly different characteristics ages rocks thing common rocks generally hard erosion resistant thought partial long narrow strip land dropped elevation time parallel faults sides faults watershed trend north northwest south southeast common british_columbia underlying rock generally stable contains rock progresses westwards formations rock appear small amounts portion bedrock upper lower reaches middle portion sediments allow river broader valley floor sediments probably originated heavy previous ice age years ago ice sheet advanced southwards present day montana idaho blocking outlet exist glaciers covered northern river watershed heavily shaped peaks valleys sees today formed caused river enormous body water stretched way montana near stands possibly connected lake enlarged time deposited sediments buried old created natural dam turns west glaciers retreated present level flats formed history inhabitants peoples valley people referred river derives creation myths state people created supreme lived region reads created people look beautiful land honor guard celebrate creation historians believe descended tribes driven historic territory 16th century considered isolated pacific_northwest tribes language related languages spoken tribes lake area semi nomadic people inhabited large area valley villages provided shelter winter rest year traveled fishing hunting picking areas northern hunted buffalo mainly notably tribe west capture use feral european introduced horses use origin meaning uncertain prior discovery europeans known people standing arrow thought french canadian fur companies early 19th century refer means water people language mean deer robes referring excellent skill hunting deer written records early 19th century french called arcs river called inhabitants area included montana south north tribes main river exploration explorer set find source columbia crossed pass eventually arrived banks thought columbia thompson traveled river ways turned attacked native americans following year thompson family men attempt finding columbia crossed northerly spot traveled columbia eventually discovering columbia lake establishing trading post spring set time reaching present day montana idaho established trading posts lake clark fork respectively spending winter montana tried reach columbia traveling failed attempt eventually returning river northwards following spring early 19th century thompson continued trade region years total monopoly canadian fur trade west outlawed alcoholic drinks altogether known written law alcohol pass mountains company thompson trading partners tried barrels thompson placed vicious horse noon pieces horse load rocks rid told alcohol course wine beer drinks imported time crossed pass led tributary named honor party referred river expedition downstream columbia lake trouble making way alberta return route chosen proved dangerous negotiate trading horses new supplies band later year north pass near lower traveling series expeditions later lead known officially involved travel west limited east earlier travels credited vital forerunner european settlement central canada providing volumes information resources vast region september traveled valley find suitable path trade route possibly railroad instead crossing thompson set fort trading post near proceeded noted crossed valley records flat bow river called flat bow lake told tribal members trail existed terminating columbia lake condition having use years entirely horses trail miles returned mid october year expedition findings later important transportation routes area trail followed later route gold silver boom gold strike confluence region resulted thousand men descended area gold rush town built moved discovered town sat atop richest deposits originally river area known stud horse early miners government officials changed new town site officially named known spelled known ferry established near facilitate crossing incoming rush merchants gold mined june american wrote miners arriving day peak rush found rich previously believed news arrived strikes columbia bulk mining population moved hudson bay post businesses continued residents years chinese end case gold towns eclipsed supply centre creation nearby chinese miners continued work played claims abandoned american canadian miners taking little gold left eventually abandoned buildings left ruin little remains settlement today gold rushes tributaries followed discovery silver mines areas leading rapidly settlement region creation silver city notably nelson outlet midway north arm 1880s 1890s constructed close mouth near process ore mines serving mines settlers steamer companies ferry idaho nelson district north end upper river fort area points montana finished line southern british_columbia began upper columbia carrying passengers produce ore trade items region distributed line golden total run kilometres long ranging golden north montana south canal flats era short lasted years incentive help navigation golden run possibly divert water northwards interior british_columbia order provide flood control low lying area south called flats european proposed creation canal construction kilometre metre channel finished called lock metres long metres wide rugged terrain rough waters rivers especially fed operation extremely difficult proved cost effective water submerged lake reservoir sank transporting miners wild horse gold rush ships reached hit rocks columbia actually run later vessels mixed success captain piloted earlier golden run builder quarters completed armstrong decided golden complete job sailed canal unfortunately gates lock flood armstrong forced vessel eventually golden eventually sailed south haul iron ore ship travel canal proper means trips canal ship pass canal piloted captain armstrong armstrong decided sail columbia instead finding business profitable mines region played established central railway branch variety reasons june year armstrong took condition lock small accommodate vessel armstrong makeshift dams built create temporary lock metres long forward dam blown ship ride surge water ahead columbia lake transit columbia lake time canal marked end era settlement 20th century members russian religious sect called living plains central canada facing persecution internal problems land canadian government leader decided british_columbia seeking land improved life chose north bank joins columbia big river present day town stands purchased acres km2 adjoining mouth partly funds raised sale farm equipment added lands acquired owned lands ultimately totaled acres km2 small settlement site called renamed brilliant supposedly sparkling waters river area known meaning valley living region arrived british_columbia began trees adjoining build cleared areas level ground order plant fields constructed columbia rivers process logs lumber settlers began arriving built larger buildings housed multiple families instead small typical region larger house holding persons constructed roughly acre plots land divided entire community constructed brick factory present day site bricks brilliant settlement brilliant cities area running water constructed reservoir hold water local spring household running water converted abandoned factory nelson kilometres brilliant produce jam established ferry suspension bridge serving purpose completed brilliant continued major player lumber industry region long settlement brilliant views education actions group called sons freedom eventually brought prosperous empire 1920s unknown destroyed public schools brilliant act british_columbia law routine rail trip seven people killed dynamite explosion completely destroyed coach traveling pieces battery alarm clock indicated work people intentionally wanted kill likely members historians lover people attended funeral leader buried elaborate tomb overlooking city brilliant columbia rivers succeeded son arrived russia unfortunately despite economic reforms created response debt federal government arrival coincided terrible depression bankruptcy caused lose lands died lands sold government today little remains settlement brilliant tomb suspension bridge spanning exists designated national historic site canada ecology divides watershed aquatic rivers lakes zones wetlands grassland shrubs moderately wet forest dry forest forested zones extend alpine reaches watershed dominate low surrounding river especially area montana idaho portion watershed canada portion watershed alpine meadow occupies high ridges valleys mountains canadian portion half basin species terrestrial basin lies columbia encompasses northeastern washington northern idaho northwestern montana southern british_columbia fish fauna region largely shared south species fish endemic species endemic fish columbia region vegetation found lower thirds tributaries join united_states sections river flow far rugged terrain characterized low nutrient content shifting channels coarse sediments making difficult zones established upper lower tributaries wetlands found primarily river series channels marshes small lakes entering diverse area flats supported million migratory birds year river wetlands converted agriculture naturally high sediment content high erosion glacial sediments mountains steep falls river mouth exception tributary significant stream annual runs salmon salmon inhabit upper reaches river attributed flood long time ago construction dams columbia dams block salmon reaching salmon run streams chief overflowed columbia lake creation temporary body water salmon managed swim submerged trapped populations large land mammals deer declining dramatically wolves species entirely gone common area include white tailed short band tailed passenger exploitation basin fur beaver population nearly economy non people came region valley important path trade transport tribes practiced agriculture south east north continuation southwards present day idaho basin trench formed natural corridor natives area interact barrier formed rocky_mountains east meant tribes area especially economically isolated great plains tribes exception territory spanned sides logging began 19th century result white emigration region remains primary industries area fact economy pacific_northwest historically today dependent lumber industry lumber required construction buildings forts railroad tracks boats today exported region great amounts providing jobs income inhabitants area relatively regions watershed logging roads cross hills percent basin forested percent area affected kind lumber industry development defined areas blocks limited extent navigation commercial navigation began 19th century transport lumber passengers imported exported products valley station golden british_columbia boat travel upper river ceased rail line built upstream big bend operated briefly lower river service silver mines nearby mountains modern times boats continue limited reaches mining important economic support area originally valuable minerals gold silver unearthed today coal primary resource extracted underground conventional coal deposits especially valley home important coal producing area british_columbia produced million tons percent world steel making coal comes region coal exported japan korea lead copper silver mined places basin notably giant sullivan near british_columbia largest watershed agriculture important industry fertile riverside lands flooded construction dams notably montana backs water canada percent entire basin square kilometres agriculture pasture foraging crops wheat account percent agricultural output region locally exported rail primary agricultural region northern idaho south transitioning coal mining tourism based economy rest region starting economy southeastern british_columbia increasingly reliant tourism canadian national state parks established national forests river modifications dams power plants built variety reasons 19th 20th centuries seven dams serve purposes ranging generation local electricity regulation flow canada united_states provide navigation fish passage times rise spring early summers enormous summer flood valley water regulation extreme variation flow longer common lower river dam falls early building dam original lower power plant generating near confluence order supply water mines british_columbia dam built river original goal improve navigation mouth columbia drowning dangerous blocked fish migration hopefully introducing fish upper river constructing fish ladder amenities salmon constructed fact dam ended built falls instead completed generated hydroelectric power served purpose commercial demand led dams falls south dam dams run river type length falls small lakes built raise regulate level completed inlet lake canal travels kilometers parallel river utilize roughly metre high water drop elevation south bypassing old dams canal generate dams falls junction kilometres river gradual slope merger columbia privately owned development built kilometres river flows columbia river treaty noted spring floods major flood years recently mid-1960s upper columbia rivers british_columbia free flowing unaffected dams resulting oregon flood discharge past canada border created problems electricity generation canada wanted utilize columbia river production hydroelectric power negotiated governments countries attempted problems construction dams authorized treaty duncan implemented dams columbia tributary fourth proper operation dams led environmental problems rivers caused unnatural flow fluctuations blocked fish migration flooded fertile agricultural land forced people relocate solely built purpose regulating water flow dam built treaty raised increased kilometre long size reservoir kilometres long purpose power generation facilities fourth dam built treaty completed dams encounters journey provides regulation water flows dams built treaty basin provide nearly cubic kilometres acre storage constitutes half cubic kilometres acre stored columbia river treaty diversion proposal 1970s proposed diverted rivers separated distance kilometers southeastern british_columbia allow generation increased hydroelectric power columbia easier flats area south agricultural purposes spring raised level lake metres implemented plans divert enlarged tunnel northwest valley southwestern british_columbia proposal strongly opposed local residents economy southeastern british_columbia strongly dependent tourism including columbia lake lake popular summer swimming boating activities diversion fed resulted deeper colder flooding riverside communities damaging tourism opposite end scale dry bed downstream cutting water supply residents upper effectiveness construction begin years result proposed river diversion undertaken recreation national provincial state parks wilderness preserves protected areas national forests lie partially wholly watershed canada include listed lies alberta border sits north national park northeast portion watershed includes stretch southwards state national park kilometres hiking trails ranging short day long trips cross country skiing popular park trails winter provincial park sits right rocky_mountains extensive trail system extensive views surrounding ranges northeast shore lake includes access boat launches east shore lake montana section river kilometres long follows river known swinging bridge lower river kilometres long running brilliant downstream separate sites lake form west arm provincial park stretch west northeast nelson smaller creek popular recreation areas sits river fishing generally good middle reaches trout bull trout salmon pacific salmon rainbow trout white species found river commonly found drops metres run meters forms natural boundary fishes upper lower river kilometres upstream formidable barrier fish traditionally abundant construction dam led declines population fishes changes water flow best season fishing june november fish banks islands boats size strength river fishing drift boats easier shore primary sources glaciers fishing conditions different rivers montana idaho fed united_states exceptional trout fishing considered blue ribbon fishery steep despite unsuitable commercial transportation agricultural mineral products considered outstanding river popular stretches montana idaho upper reaches river national park british_columbia middle best flows cubic metres second run kilometres east west includes class includes rarely run safely middle course montana river rated class water law recreational purposes montana idaho border class represents bodies water suitable recreation popular canadian stretches river especially near gradient challenging canadian provide trips river near national park ranging hours days numerous channels thread wetlands flats additional benefit watching birds wildlife surrounding marshes larger craft able travel activity swift flowing major tributary parts major tributaries crossings crossings river listed upstream downstream road track coordinates location given additional reading surveys near ferry geological survey sullivan gordon saving story montana streams rivers 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Kootenay River