How was the Snake River created?

Formed by the confluence of three tiny streams on the southwest flank of Two Oceans Plateau in Yellowstone National Park, western Wyoming, the Snake starts out flowing west and south into Jackson Lake. Its first 50 miles (80 km) run through Jackson Hole, a wide valley between the Teton Range and the Gros Ventre Range.

Where does the energy from the Snake River come from?

The Columbia-Snake river system, a 365-mile federal waterway from Lewiston, Idaho to Portland, Oregon, enables inland farmers to sell their crops to feed the world. Hydropower delivers carbon-free energy to more than 60% of people in the Pacific Northwest. Most of it comes from dams on the Snake and Columbia rivers.

Where does the Snake River get its name?

Snake River. The Snake River is a major tributary of the Columbia River and has its headwaters just inside Yellowstone on the Two Ocean Plateau. Various stretches of this important river have had at least 15 different names. The name, which comes from the Snake (Shoshone) Indians, was applied to the river as early as 1812,…

Why was the Snake River important to the Shoshones?

Over 11,000 years ago, the Snake was a vital source of life for the Native Americans, specifically the Shoshones, that were living along the banks of the river. While they weren’t Snake River rafting as we are today, the Snake was very important to them primarily because of the salmon from the Pacific Ocean.

Why is the Snake River important to the Pacific Northwest?

The Columbia-Snake river system, a 365-mile federal waterway from Lewiston, Idaho to Portland, Oregon, enables inland farmers to sell their crops to feed the world. Hydropower delivers carbon-free energy to more than 60% of people in the Pacific Northwest.

What is the route of the Snake River?

In southern Idaho the river flows through the broad Snake River Plain. Along the Idaho-Oregon border, the river flows through Hells Canyon, part of a larger physiographic region called the Columbia River Plateau . Through this, the Snake River flows through Washington to its confluence with the Columbia River .

What are the cities on the Snake River?

Aside from water from the river, water is also pulled from the Snake River Aquifer for irrigation. Major cities along the river include Jackson in Wyoming, Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, Boise, and Lewiston in Idaho, and the Tri-Cities in Washington ( Kennewick , Pasco and Richland).

What is the depth of the Snake River?

The Snake River has a length of 1,038 miles (1,670 km) and runs through several gorges, including Hell’s Canyon, which has a maximum depth of 7,900 feet (2,410m) and is one of the world’s deepest gorges. The Snake also runs through 31 counties.