The Eel River is a major river of the northern Pacific coast of California in the United States. Approximately 200 mi (322 km) long, it drains a rugged area in the Coast Ranges between the Sacramento Valley and the ocean, flowing northwest parallel to the coast for most of its course.
Description
It rises in northeastern Mendocino County, north of Hull Mountain in the Mendocino National Forest. It flows briefly southeast and west, through the Lake Pillsbury reservoir in Lake County, then re-enters Mendocino County, turning northwest approximately 15 mi (24 km) east of Willits. It flows northwest in a long isolated valley past Dos Rios and forming the western boundary of the Round Valley Indian Reservation. It cuts across the southwestern corner of Trinity County then crosses Humboldt County from the southeast to northwest, flowing in a winding course past a series of small mountain communities. It emerges into a widening valley southeast of Eureka where it is followed by U.S. Highway 101. It flows past Rio Dell and Fortuna and enters the Pacific in central Humboldt County approximately 15 mi (24 km) SSW of Eureka.
In its upper course, it is joined from the southwest by the South Fork approximately 15 mi (24 km) southeast of Dos Rios, and from the east by the Middle Fork at Dos Rios. In its middle reaches it is joined from the east by the North Fork approximately 25 mi northwest of Dos Rios. In its lower reaches it is joined by the Van Duzen River from the east 3 mi (5 km) northwest of Rio Dell.
External links
Friends of the Eel River (http://www.eelriver.org/)
The common freshwater eel, Anguilla rostrata, of the family Anguillidae, is found in the Atlantic coastal regions of Europe, in the Mediterranean area, and in North America E of the Rockies.
Some eels dwell in deep water (in case of family Synaphobranchidae, this comes to a depth of 4,000 m), or are active swimmers (the family Nemichthyidae - to the depth of 500 m).
Freshwater eels (unagi) and marine eels (Conger eel, anago) are commonly used in Japanese cuisine.
The Middle Fork from its confluence with the main stem to the southern boundary of the Yolla Bolly Wilderness Area.
The Van Duzen River from the confluence with the EelRiver to Dinsmure Bridge.
The three forks of the Eel contain a diversity of river types originating in high mountain pine forests, flowing through steep canyons and coastal redwood forests, and emptying into the Pacific in a gently sloping valley with virgin redwood stands.
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