The Mosque River is a tributary of the Skeena River in the Stikine Region of the province of British Columbia, Canada. It originates in the Tatlatui Range of the Skeena Mountains,[6] and flows southwest about 50 km (31 mi) to the Skeena River, about 140 km (87 mi) north of Hazelton and about 160 km (99 mi) east of Stewart.[4][7][8] Its watershed covers about 148 km2 (57 sq mi), and its mean annual discharge is 15.4 m3/s (540 cu ft/s).[5]
| Mosque River | |
|---|---|
  Location of mouth of Mosque River | |
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Diagonal Mountain |
| • location | Omineca Mountains |
| • coordinates | 56°45′9″N 127°16′50″W / 56.75250°N 127.28056°W[1][2] |
| • elevation | 1,700 m (5,600 ft)[3] |
| Mouth | Skeena River |
• location | Skeena Mountains |
• coordinates | 56°31′2″N 127°33′28″W / 56.51722°N 127.55778°W[1] |
• elevation | 673 m (2,208 ft)[3] |
| Length | 50 km (31 mi)[4] |
| Basin size | 499 km2 (193 sq mi)[5] |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 15.4 m3/s (540 cu ft/s)[5] |
The river's entire watershed is within the traditional territory of the Gitxsan First Nation and is part of the lands currently under negotiation for aboriginal title according to the British Columbia Treaty Process.[9]
The Mosque River was named in 1940, in association with Mosque Mountain.[1]
Geography
editThe Mosque River originates on the east side of Diagonal Mountain. The continental divide runs along the east and north sides of the Mosque River's watershed. About 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of the source of the Mosque River, across the continental divide, lies Thutade Lake, the source of the Finlay River.[7][8]
The Mosque River generally flows southwest, collecting a number of unnamed tributaries before emptying into the Skeena River. Its watershed is located partly in the Skeena Mountains and partly in the Omineca Mountains.[7][8]
Significant mountains in and around the river's watershed include Fort Mountain (2,030 m (6,660 ft)), Diagonal Mountain (2,210 m (7,250 ft)), South Pass Peak (1,896 m (6,220 ft)), Bird Hill (1,870 m (6,140 ft)), and Mosque Mountain (2,026 m (6,647 ft)). Subranges of the Skeena and Omineca Mountains in the Mosque River's watershed include the Tatlatui Range, Hogem Ranges, and Slamgeesh Range.[7][8]
History
editThe Mosque River is in the territory of the Gitxsan First Nation. Gitxsan salmon fishing sites are located at numerous places along the Skeena River, including at the confluence of the Skeena and Mosque Rivers.[10]
The Mosque River was named in 1940, in association with Mosque Mountain, which is located on the southern edge of the river's watershed.[1] At least two other streams are named in association with Mosque Mountain: Islam Creek and Minaret Creek, both of which flow south from Mosque Mountain to the Sustut River.[11][12] Mosque Mountain was named in 1940, for its dome shape which was thought to resemble a mosque.[13]
The Mosque River watershed is part of the lands currently under negotiation for Gitxsan aboriginal title according to the British Columbia Treaty Process. As of August 2021 the treaty negotiations are in the fourth stage of the process.[9] The Mosque River watershed falls under two of the treaty process's Strategic Engagement Agreements. The northern part of the watershed is included in the Upper Skeena Laxyip Strategic Engagement Agreement.[14] The southern part is included in the Sustut Laxyip Strategic Engagement Agreement.[15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Mosque River". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ Derived using BCGNIS coordinates, topographic maps and TopoQuest.
- ^ a b Elevation derived from ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model, using GeoLocator, BCGNIS coordinates, and topographic maps.
- ^ a b Length measured using Google Maps path tool, BCGNIS coordinates, topographic maps, and ACME Mapper.
- ^ a b c "Northwest Water Tool". BC Water Tool. GeoBC, Integrated Land Management Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, Government of British Columbia. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
- ^ "Tatlatui Range". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ a b c d "Canadian 1:50K topographic maps" (map). TopoQuest.com. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d Mussio, Russell; Mussio, Wesley (2018). Northern BC Backroad Mapbook. Mussio Ventures. p. 56. ISBN 978-1-926806-87-7. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
- ^ a b "First Nations Negotiations: Gitxsan Nation". Government of British Columbia. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
- ^ Gottesfeld, Allen S.; Babnett, Ken A. (January 2007). "Skeena Watershed Fish Populations and their Habitat" (PDF). Skeena Fisheries Commission. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
- ^ "Islam Creek". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Minaret Creek". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Mosque Mountain". BC Geographical Names.
- ^ "Upper Skeena Laxyip Strategic Engagement Agreement" (PDF). Government of British Columbia. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
- ^ "Sustut Laxyip Strategic Engagement Agreement" (PDF). Government of British Columbia. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
External links
edit- "Gitxsan Nation". Gitxsan Huwilp Government.
- "Atlas of Resource Values in the Gitxsan Watersheds—Phase 2: Upper Skeena Watershed" (PDF). British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development. March 2008. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- "Gitxsan Gald'm Mahlasxw Newsletter" (PDF). Huwilp Gitxsan Government. May–June 2019.