The Virgin River is a
tributary
A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drai ...
of the
Colorado River
The Colorado River ( es, Río Colorado) is one of the principal rivers (along with the Rio Grande) in the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The river drains an expansive, arid watershed that encompasses parts of seven U.S. s ...
in the
U.S. states of
Utah
Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to its ...
,
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. N ...
, and
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
. The river is about long.
[Calculated with ]Google Maps
Google Maps is a web mapping platform and consumer application offered by Google. It offers satellite imagery, aerial photography, street maps, 360° interactive panoramic views of streets (Street View), real-time traffic conditions, and rou ...
and Google Earth
Google Earth is a computer program that renders a 3D computer graphics, 3D representation of Earth based primarily on satellite imagery. The program maps the Earth by superimposition, superimposing satellite images, aerial photography, and geog ...
It was designated Utah's first wild and scenic river in 2009, during the centennial celebration of
Zion National Park.
History
The first known Euro-American party to encounter the Virgin was led by
Jedediah Smith
Jedediah Strong Smith (January 6, 1799 – May 27, 1831) was an American clerk, transcontinental pioneer, frontiersman, hunter, trapper, author, cartographer, mountain man and explorer of the Rocky Mountains, the Western United States, an ...
in 1826. Smith named it "Adams River", after then-president
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams (; July 11, 1767 – February 23, 1848) was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, and diarist who served as the sixth president of the United States, from 1825 to 1829. He previously served as the eighth United States ...
.
[Smith, Jedediah S., arrison G. Rogers and George R. Brooks (ed.). ''The Southwest Expedition of Jedediah S. Smith: His Personal Account of the Journey to California, 1826–1827'', p. 55. Lincoln and London, University of Nebraska Press, ]977
Year 977 ( CMLXXVII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place Europe
* May – Boris II, dethroned emperor (''tsar'') of Bulgaria, and his brother Roman m ...
1989. Later explorer and mapmaker
John C. Fremont
John is a common English name and surname:
* John (given name)
* John (surname)
John may also refer to:
New Testament
Works
* Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John
* First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John
* Second E ...
reported that it was called "Rio Virgen" but did not state the origin of the name.
Hiram Chittenden speculated that Smith had later renamed the river after Thomas Virgin, who was badly wounded in an 1827 attack by
Mohave people during the crossing of the
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert ( ; mov, Hayikwiir Mat'aar; es, Desierto de Mojave) is a desert in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada mountains in the Southwestern United States. It is named for the indigenous Mojave people. It is located primarily ...
. Virgin recovered from his wounds but was later killed, along with most of Smith's companions, in an attack by
Umpqua people
The Umpqua people are an umbrella group of several distinct tribal entities of Native Americans of the Umpqua Basin in present-day south central Oregon in the United States. The area south of Roseburg is now known as the Umpqua Valley.
At leas ...
(in present-day Oregon).
The
Old Spanish Trail followed the Virgin River for part of its length from near St. George to the point it ascended the Mormon Plateau to cross to the
Muddy River in present-day
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. N ...
.
Course
Its origin is in Southwestern Utah, at the Navajo Reservoir in the
Dixie National Forest, north of Zion National Park, and is formed by the confluence of the
East Fork Virgin, that flows through
Mount Carmel Junction on the east side of Zion National Park and Parunaweap Canyon, with the North Fork Virgin River, that flows from Navajo Lake through
Zion Canyon in Zion National Park. The river flows in a southwesterly direction, passing south of the old townsite of
St. George where the Santa Clara River joins the Virgin at a place the
Paiutes called Tonaquint. The river then flows across the northwestern corner of Arizona through the
Virgin River Gorge and past the towns of
Beaver Dam and
Littlefield. It enters southern Nevada near the town of
Mesquite and empties into the Colorado at the
Lake Mead reservoir, approximately east of
Las Vegas
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Veg ...
. The last of the Virgin River forms the north arm of Lake Mead.
Ecology
Despite flowing through an arid region, the Virgin River is home to a surprisingly diverse array of plants and animals. Southwestern Utah is located at the intersection of three physiographic regions: the
Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau, also known as the Colorado Plateau Province, is a physiographic and desert region of the Intermontane Plateaus, roughly centered on the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States. This province covers an area o ...
, the
Great Basin
The Great Basin is the largest area of contiguous endorheic watersheds, those with no outlets, in North America. It spans nearly all of Nevada, much of Utah, and portions of California, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, and Baja California. It is noted fo ...
, and the
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert ( ; mov, Hayikwiir Mat'aar; es, Desierto de Mojave) is a desert in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada mountains in the Southwestern United States. It is named for the indigenous Mojave people. It is located primarily ...
. The exceptional landscapes and habitats of this region harbor unique plant and animal communities and species found nowhere else in the world. Without the water of the Virgin River system, these species could not exist. The Virgin River directly supports hundreds of wildlife species, including
woundfin, Virgin River chub, Virgin spinedace, flannelmouth sucker, desert sucker, speckled dace, and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. Many of these species are endangered or are considered sensitive species within the State of Utah. The Virgin River Program was established to balance increasing human demand and maintain this unique system.
Woundfin (''
Plagopterus argentissimus'') Federally listed endangered species Size: 4″ (10.2 cm)
One of the rarest species on earth, the endangered woundfin is found only in a small section of the Virgin River. Woundfin have large fins and scale-less, streamlined bodies that help them survive in swift, silty conditions. Although small, it is shark-like in both appearance and action as it feeds on small insects in shallow areas along the river. Woundfin live only one to two years, and their survival depends upon sufficient flow within the river, especially during hot summer months.
Virgin River chub (''
Gila seminuda'') Federally listed endangered species Size: 18 " (46.4 cm)
Rare and beautiful, this fish is the top native predator in the Virgin River. Chub is a fast, streamlined fish with a sloped forehead, humped back, and thin, rounded tail. The Virgin River chub feeds on small fish, insects, and plant matter. Chub prefer deep pools and runs with boulders and debris for cover. Virgin River chub were once an important food source for Native Americans and early pioneers. Listed as an endangered species, the Virgin River chub is found from Pah Tempe Hot Springs down to Halfway Wash, Nevada.
Desert sucker (''
Catostomus clarkii
The desert sucker or Gila Mountain sucker (''Catostomus clarkii''), is a freshwater species of ray-finned fish in the sucker family, endemic to the Great Basin and the Colorado River Basin in the United States. It inhabits rapids and fast-fl ...
'') State of Utah wildlife species of concern Size: 18″ (46.4 cm)
The desert sucker gets its name from the way it feeds on aquatic vegetation and insects. It uses its thick cartilaginous lips to scrape and suck food from rocks and boulders along the bottom of the river. Desert Suckers are very colorful during the spring spawning season, developing bright orange and black 'racing stripes' along their sides. Desert suckers are considered a sensitive species in Utah, where they are only found in the Virgin River and its tributaries.
Speckled dace (''
Rhinichthys osculus'') Size: 4 " (10.2 cm)
One of the most widespread species in western North America, the speckled dace is found in large numbers throughout the Virgin River and its tributaries. Speckled dace prefer rocky areas but are comfortable living in all habitats and stream sizes. Speckled dace exhibit a kaleidoscope of shapes and colors across their range. Males display bright red "lipstick" and red fins to attract mates during the breeding season.
Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (''Empidonax trailii extimus'') Federally listed endangered species
The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher occurs in dense riparian habitats along streams rivers, and other wetlands. At low elevations, the flycatcher breeds in dense, patchy habitats composed of mid-sized to tall trees and shrubs. At higher elevations, it occurs in dense stands of low to moderate height riparian shrubs. Vegetation density within 4 m (13 ft) is especially important. Preferred habitats are almost always associated with standing or slow-flowing water. The destruction of riparian habitats has caused a severe decline in the populations of the southwestern willow flycatcher. Currently, this sub-species exists only in fragmented and scattered locations throughout its range. Historically, the breeding range reached from southern California, southern Nevada, southern Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas, southwestern Colorado, and northwestern Mexico. The flycatcher is a migratory bird that winters in Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. Currently, the breeding range for the flycatcher is similar to the historic range, though much of the riparian habitat in the southwest has been degraded by agricultural practices, invasion of non-native vegetation and urban development. The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher is an insectivore, taking insects from the air, or picking them from the foliage. The Southwestern Willow Flycatcher is present on breeding grounds by mid-May. By late May, nests are built, usually in a branched tree fork near the water. Typically, three eggs are laid and then incubated for 12–13 days.
Virgin spinedace (''
Lepidomeda mollispinis mollispinis'') State conservation species Size: 5″ (12.7 cm)
The Virgin spinedace looks, feeds, and behaves like a miniature trout. This silvery minnow gets its name from the sharp spiny rays in its dorsal fin. Virgin spinedace are found only in the Virgin River Basin. Unlike the woundfin and chub, which live only in the Virgin River, spinedace are also found throughout many tributary streams. Virgin Spinedace prefer deep pools and runs and are at home in both clear and turbid water.
Flannelmouth sucker (''
Catostomus latipinnis'') State conservation species Size: 2+' (64.8 cm)
The flannelmouth sucker is the largest native fish in the Virgin River, growing over two feet in length and weighing over six pounds. The flannelmouth's thick fleshy lips contain taste buds that help it find food along the bottom of the River, including aquatic invertebrates, organic debris and algae. Flannelmouth suckers are usually found in deep sandy areas of the Virgin River, but large numbers congregate in shallow gravel areas for spawning in the spring.
Water in the river's lower valley provides irrigation for the cultivation of
cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose, and can contain minor pe ...
,
pomegranates, and
fig
The fig is the edible fruit of ''Ficus carica'', a species of small tree in the flowering plant family Moraceae. Native to the Mediterranean and western Asia, it has been cultivated since ancient times and is now widely grown throughout the world ...
s.
The Nevada river valley's significance is commemorated by
Nevada Historical Marker
Nevada historical markers identify significant places of interest in Nevada's history. The Historic Marker Program was initiated by the Nevada State Legislature in 1967 to bring the state's heritage to the public's attention with on-site markers. ...
56.
Virgin River Gorge
The scenic Virgin River Gorge is in northwest Arizona just south of the Utah state line. It is a popular winter
rock climbing
Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up, across, or down natural rock formations. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a usually pre-defined route without falling. Rock climbing is a physically a ...
area noted for its steep and overhanging limestone walls.
Interstate 15 follows the Virgin River for several miles through the Virgin River Gorge.
Gallery
Image:Virgin River 6.jpg, View of the lower river, between Mesquite and Lake Mead
Image:Zion Virgin River EF1.jpg, Small rock waterfall in the Virgin River's north fork, passing through Zion National Park
File:Virgin River Zion National Park Utah 21Mar2018 SkySat.jpg, Satellite image of the Virgin River in Zion National Park
See also
*
List of rivers of Utah
This is a list of rivers in the U.S. state of Utah in the United States, sorted by watershed.
Colorado River
The Colorado River is a major river in the Western United States, emptying into the Gulf of California. Rivers are listed upstream ...
*
List of rivers of Nevada
List of rivers of Nevada (U.S. state).
By drainage basin
This list is arranged by drainage basin, with respective tributaries indented under each larger stream's name.
Great Basin
*Amargosa River
*Carson River
*Humboldt River
** Little Humboldt R ...
*
List of rivers of Arizona
*
List of tributaries of the Colorado River
The principal tributaries of the Colorado River of North America are the Gila River, the San Juan River, the Green River, and the Gunnison River.
Tributary tree
The following is a tree demonstrating the points at which the major and minor tri ...
References
Further reading
* Carlson, D.D. and D.F. Meyer. (1995). ''Flood on the Virgin River, January 1989, in Utah, Arizona, and Nevada''
ater-Resources Investigations Report 94-4159 Salt Lake City: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.
* Hereford, R., G. Jacoby, and V.A.S. McCord. (1995). ''Geomorphic history of the Virgin River in the Zion National Park area, southwest Utah''
.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 95-515 Reston, VA: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.
* Langenheim, V.E. et al. (2000). ''Geophysical constraints on the Virgin River Depression, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona''
.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-407 Menlo Park, CA: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.
* Wilkowske, C.D., V.M. Heilweil, D.E. Wilberg. (1998). ''Selected hydrologic data for the central Virgin River basin area, Washington and Iron counties, Utah, 1915–97''
.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-407 Salt Lake City: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey.
External links
Virgin River Program
{{authority control
Tributaries of the Colorado River in Nevada
Tributaries of the Colorado River in Utah
Rivers of Arizona
Rivers of Nevada
Rivers of Utah
Zion National Park
Rivers of Mohave County, Arizona
Rivers of Clark County, Nevada
Rivers of Washington County, Utah
Rivers of Kane County, Utah
Tributaries of the Colorado River in Arizona
Tributaries of the Lower Colorado River in Arizona
Old Spanish Trail (trade route)
Mormon Road
National Park Service Wild and Scenic Rivers