Adams River (British Columbia)

Adams River
The Lower Adams during the salmon run
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Region	Interior
Source	Monashee Range
Mouth
- location	Shuswap Lake, British Columbia, Canada
Length	177 km (110 mi) (includes Adams Lake)
Basin	2,860 km2 (1,104 sq mi)

The Adams River is a tributary to the Thompson and Fraser Rivers in British Columbia, Canada. Beginning in the Monashee Mountains to the north, the Upper Adams River flows mainly southward and eventually reaches Adams Lake. The Lower Adams River begins at the southern end of the lake and flows into the extreme western end of Shuswap Lake. The river is one of the most important sockeye salmon breeding areas in North America. The run occurs in mid-October and can bring millions of fish to a concentrated area near the river mouth. Excavations of Secwepemc villages on the river have shown a long tradition of habitation and salmon fishing in the area. The river also served as an important transportation route for early logging operations in the watershed.

The headwaters of the Adams are several unnamed glaciers at roughly 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) elevation in the north-east region of the Monashee Range of the Columbia Mountains. The upper portion of the river flows roughly south and southwest through wetlands and passes through two small lakes, Tumtum and Mica. It has sections of rapids and whitewater, and flows over cataracts below Tumtum Lake. Its flow drops by 5 metres (16 ft) per kilometre in certain sections. After travelling for 94 kilometres (58 mi) and entering the Shuswap Highland, it enters the northern end of Adams Lake.

Adams Lake is roughly 72 kilometres (45 mi) along its north-south axis, and reaches a maximum depth of 457 metres (1,499 ft), making it the 24th deepest lake in the world. The Lower Adams issues from the extreme southern end of the lake and travels 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) through a narrow valley. It empties into Shuswap Lake near the community of Squilax. From Adams Lake to the Shuswap, the Lower Adams drops 60 metres (200 ft) in elevation.

Tributaries of the Upper Adams include: