In today's article we are going to delve into the fascinating world of Coeur d'Alene River. Whether you are familiar with this topic or it is the first time you are hearing about it, we are sure that you will find valuable and entertaining information that will help you understand it better. We will explore the most relevant aspects, the most recent advances and also the impact that Coeur d'Alene River has had on society. No matter what your level of prior knowledge is, this article is designed to provide you with a complete and up-to-date overview of Coeur d'Alene River. So get ready to embark on a journey of discovery and learning.
Coeur d'Alene River | |
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Location | |
Country | United States |
State | Idaho |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Confluence of North and South Forks |
• location | Pinehurst, Shoshone County |
• coordinates | 47°33′26″N 116°15′22″W / 47.55722°N 116.25611°W |
• elevation | 2,172 ft (662 m) |
Mouth | Coeur d'Alene Lake |
• location | Harrison, Kootenai County |
• coordinates | 47°27′43″N 116°47′40″W / 47.46194°N 116.79444°W |
• elevation | 2,129 ft (649 m) |
Length | 37 mi (60 km) |
Basin size | 1,453 sq mi (3,760 km2) |
Discharge | |
• location | river mile 2.5 (RKM 4.0) |
• average | 2,521 cu ft/s (71.4 m3/s) |
• minimum | 230 cu ft/s (6.5 m3/s) |
• maximum | 27,300 cu ft/s (770 m3/s) |
Basin features | |
Tributaries | |
• left | South Fork Coeur d'Alene River, Latour Creek |
• right | North Fork Coeur d'Alene River |
The Coeur d'Alene River flows 37 miles (60 km) from the Silver Valley into Lake Coeur d'Alene in the U.S. state of Idaho. The stream continues out of Lake Coeur d'Alene as the Spokane River.
Before the Bunker Hill Smelter in the Kellogg area, which mined lead and silver, was forced to adopt environmental controls in the 1970s, there was so much lead in the river in the Kellogg area the locals called the stream "Lead Creek."
Salmon levels continue to remain high in the area[citation needed], and it is a popular destination for water-skiing, tubing, and swimming for locals.
All of the real bodies of water in the film Dante's Peak were either the Coeur d'Alene River or one of its tributaries, as Wallace, Idaho, where the movie was filmed, is in the Silver Valley.
Environmental concerns have come from upstream hard rock mining and smelting operations in the Silver Valley. The Coeur d'Alene Basin, including the Coeur d'Alene River, Lake Coeur d'Alene, and also the Spokane River is polluted with heavy metals such as lead and was designated a superfund site in 1983 that spans 1,500 square miles (3,884.98 km2) and 166 miles (267 km) of the Coeur d'Alene River. The majority of the lake bed is covered in a layer of contaminated sediment and local health officials at the Panhandle Health District advise the lake's visitors to wash anything that has come into contact with potentially lead-laced soil or dust in the Coeur d'Alene River basin.