Sacramento River
river in Northern and Central California, United States
The Sacramento River is the longest river in California in the United States. It flows through the Sacramento Valley in northern California, and is about 445 miles (716 km) long. The Sacramento has many tributaries, including the Pit, Feather and American Rivers. Cities along the river include Redding and Sacramento.
Sacramento River | |
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Location | |
Country | United States |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
- location | Klamath Mountains |
Mouth | Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta |
Length | 447 mi (719 km) |
Basin size | 27,580 sq mi (71,400 km2) |
Discharge | |
- average | 23,490 cu ft/s (665 m3/s) |
Native people have lived in the region for about 12,000 years. The Sacramento River's tributaries were the focus of the California Gold Rush, which brought many settlers to the area in the 1800s. Today, the river is used as a source of irrigation water and to produce hydroelectricity.