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Lemhi River
Reenactment on Lemhi River Nez Perce National Historic Trail (23723417842).jpg
Historical reenactment on the Lemhi River
Lemhi River is located in Idaho
Lemhi River
Lemhi River is located in the United States
Lemhi River
Location of the mouth of the Lemhi River in Idaho
Country United States
State Idaho
Counties Lemhi
Cities Leadore, Salmon
Physical characteristics
Main source 5,954 ft (1,815 m)
44°40′56″N 113°21′17″W / 44.68222°N 113.35472°W / 44.68222; -113.35472
River mouth Salmon River
Salmon
3,900 ft (1,200 m)
45°11′17″N 113°54′23″W / 45.18806°N 113.90639°W / 45.18806; -113.90639
Length 60 mi (97 km)
Basin features
Basin size 1,216 sq mi (3,150 km2)

The Lemhi River is a 60-mile-long (97 km) river in Idaho in the United States. It is a tributary of the Salmon River, which in turn is tributary to the Snake River and Columbia River.

Course

From its source near Leadore and the confluence of several headwater streams, the Lemhi River flows generally northwest, through the Lemhi Valley, between the Lemhi Range to the west, and the Bitterroot Range and Beaverhead Mountains to the east. The Lemhi River flows into the Salmon River at the city of Salmon.

River modification

The water of the Lemhi River and its tributaries is used for irrigation agriculture. Of the river's mainstem tributaries, only 7% are not totally disconnected year round due to diversion for irrigation.

History

In August 1805 Lewis and Clark crossed the continental divide at the Lemhi Pass 10 miles (16 km) to the east of the Lemhi River. There, the group encountered a tribe of Shoshone Indians, one of whom turned out to be Cameahwait, brother of Sacagawea. The expedition sent a reconnaissance party, guided by Swooping Eagle, north along the Lemhi to the Salmon River attempting to find a navigable path, but turned back when they found that the Salmon was not passable by boat or on land.

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