Incomappleux River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Incomappleux River
The inland temperate rainforest of the Incomappleux River Valley
Location in British Columbia
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Physical characteristics
Main source	Illecillewaet Neve Selkirk Mountains
River mouth	Columbia River Upper Arrow Lake 50°45′N 117°43′W / 50.750°N 117.717°W / 50.750; -117.717
Basin features
Progression	Incomappleux Valley
Basin size	1,020 km2 (390 sq mi)

The Incomappleux River is a major tributary of the Columbia River in British Columbia, Canada, entering that river via the Beaton Arm of Upper Arrow Lake. The upper reaches of the river valley are home to a portion of the only inland temperate rainforest in the world.

First Nations

The name "Incomappleux" is derived from the Okanagan word nk'mapeleqs, meaning "point at end (of lake)". This refers to the northeastern tip of Upper Arrow Lake into which the Incomappleux River empties. The names of the creek and adjacent mountain are also derived from this word. A Sinixt village by this name formerly existed somewhere in the confluence area.

European settlement

Early explorers referred to the valley and river as various English spellings of the word, but Fish River was also used. The pioneer towns of Arrowhead, Beaton, Camborne, Circle City, and Comaplix were in the Beaton Arm area. The mines Eva, Oyster, Meridian, Silver Dollar and others were rich in silver lead ore.

Course

The river's course is nearly due south from its origin in the Selkirk Mountains at the southwest toe of the Illecillewaet Neve on Mount Bonney, which is on the south side of the Rogers Pass and is also the source of the Illecillewaet River. This wild outfall is amid large cedars, hemlock, devil's club and bears. Pope and Talbot owned the timber lease, and wanted to cut the prime cedar, there being a grove of spectacular thousand year old cedar in the area. P and T have since gone bankrupt and the road through the canyon by river has washed out.