Fraser River Elevation Profile: From Rocky Mountain Source to Pacific Mouth
The Fraser River, British Columbia’s longest river (1,375 km / 854 mi), drops dramatically from alpine headwaters to sea level.
Elevation Extremes
| Location | Elevation | Coordinates |
|---|
| Source (Fraser Pass, Mount Robson) | 3,954 m (12,972 ft) | 53°06′N 119°09′W |
| Mouth (Strait of Georgia, Vancouver) | 0 m (sea level) | 49°06′N 123°06′W |
Longitudinal Profile (Key Points)
- Headwaters (Rocky Mtns): 3,954 m → steep gradient, glacial meltwater
- Yellowhead Lake: ~1,100 m
- Prince George (confluence with Nechako): ~550 m
- Quesnel: ~470 m
- Williams Lake area: ~400 m
- Lytton (confluence with Thompson): ~200 m
- Hope (enters Fraser Valley): ~30 m
- Mission (tidal influence begins): ~5 m
- Vancouver/Delta (mouth): 0 m
Gradient & Hydrology
- Average gradient: ~2.9 m/km (steep for a major river)
- Steepest reaches: Fraser Canyon (Hell’s Gate) – 10–15 m/km
- Tidal reach: ~80 km upstream (to Mission)
- Annual discharge: ~3,550 m³/s (highly seasonal: spring freshet 10× winter baseflow)
Why Elevation Matters
- Salmon migration: Sockeye & Chinook traverse the entire gradient—one of the world’s most epic runs.
- Hydropower: Steep canyon sections enable dams (e.g., Mica, Revelstoke, Hugh Keenleyside).
- Flood risk: Rapid snowmelt + steep gradient = sudden freshet peaks.
- Sediment transport: High gradient moves coarse sediment; deposits in lowland reach form rich farmland.
The Fraser’s 3,954-meter plunge powers its ecology, economy, and identity as BC’s lifeline.
Wanderlust World