Nespelem River
| Nespelem River | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| City | Nespelem |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • coordinates | 48°21′5″N 118°55′48″W / 48.35139°N 118.93000°W[1] |
| • elevation | 3,850 ft (1,170 m)[2] |
| Mouth | Columbia River |
• coordinates | 48°7′40″N 119°2′34″W / 48.12778°N 119.04278°W[1] |
• elevation | 961 ft (293 m)[2] |
| Basin size | 224 sq mi (580 km2)[3] |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Little Nespelem River |
The Nespelem River is a northern tributary of the Columbia River, in the U.S. state of Washington. It is completely contained within Okanogan County and the Colville Indian Reservation.
The name "Nespelem" is said to come from the Indian word nesilim, meaning "flat land".[4]
Course
The Nespelem River originates in eastern Okanogan County and flows south. It collects several minor tributaries including Stepstone Creek, North Star Creek, and Armstrong Creek, before passing by the town of Nespelem, Washington, the headquarters of the Colville Indian Reservation.
Below the town, the Nespelem River turns west. The Little Nespelem River joins just before the river empties into the Columbia River. This reach of the Columbia River is several miles below
See also
- List of rivers in Washington
- Tributaries of the Columbia River
References
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Nespelem River, USGS, GNIS
- ^ a b Google Earth elevation for GNIS coordinates.
- ^ Lake Rufus Woods Archived 2007-07-13 at the Wayback Machine, Intermountain Province Plan, Northwest Power and Conservation Council
- ISBN 0-295-95158-3.