Wild Horse 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 drainage ...
of the
Kootenay River
The Kootenay or Kootenai river is a major river in the Northwest Plateau, in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, and northern Montana and Idaho in the United States. It is one of the uppermost major tributaries of the Columbia River, the l ...
in the
East Kootenay
The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) is a regional district in the provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of British Columbia, Canada. In the 2016 census, the population was 60,439. Its area is . The regional district ...
region of southeastern
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
. The river flows southwest from the
Canadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies (french: Rocheuses canadiennes) or Canadian Rocky Mountains, comprising both the Alberta Rockies and the British Columbian Rockies, is the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains. It is the easternmost part ...
to the mouth, which lies immediately south of
Fort Steele
Fort Steele is a heritage site in the East Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. This visitor attraction lies on the east shore of the Kootenay River between the mouths of the St. Mary River (British Columbia), St. Mary River and Wild H ...
.
Name origin
On his 1814 map,
David Thompson called the stream Luissier. In late 1863, a group led by Joe Findlay were gold panning at the river mouth. Observing either a black wild stallion or a
cayuse on the hillside, which possibly showed interest in one of their mares, they called the stream Stud Horse Creek. A year or two later, the official rename was Wild Horse Creek. Around 1950, Wild Horse River became the common name.
Mining
In 1864, an important mining camp was established at
Fisherville.
Placer mining
Placer mining () is the mining of stream bed (Alluvium, alluvial) deposits for minerals. This may be done by open-pit mining, open-pit (also called open-cast mining) or by various surface excavating equipment or tunneling equipment.
Placer minin ...
yielded close to $7,000,000 in gold during the goldrush. Worked by both European and Chinese miners, the river has been a significant BC gold producing stream. Mike Reynolds in the 1860s found a gold nugget, which was the largest one recovered from the river. Mining methods have included hydraulics, tunnels, and shafts. The river experienced major mining activity from 1863 to 1868 and from 1885 to 1900.
Springs
Accessible by a hiking trail, the major sources at the upper level are warm and cold springs. On Crown land, the water is clear and odourless. Water temperatures range from , being warmer on colder days and vice versa. Several former springs have dried up.
See also
*
List of British Columbia rivers
The following is a partial list of rivers of British Columbia, organized by watershed. Some large creeks are included either because of size or historical importance
(See Alphabetical List of British Columbia rivers ). Also included are lakes th ...
*
British Columbia Gold Rushes British Columbia gold rushes were important episodes in the history and settlement of European, Canadian and Chinese peoples in western Canada.
The presence of gold in what is now British Columbia is spoken of in many old legends that, in part, led ...
Footnotes
References
*
Rivers of British Columbia
Canadian gold rushes
British Columbia gold rushes
East Kootenay
Canyons and gorges of British Columbia
Tributaries of the Kootenay River
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