According to Abbreviationfinder, with population of 1,787,065, Idaho is the 39th largest state among U.S. 50 states, and ID is the two letter abbreviation for Idaho. Here, we provide a list of major rivers and mountains in the state of Idaho.
Rivers in Idaho
The Bear River has a total length of 563 km and flows through the states of Idaho, Wyoming and Idaho. The Bear River is created in Utah by the confluence of the Hayden Fork and Stillwater Fork. From there it flows through the southwestern part of Wyoming, from there to Idaho and finally flows back to the Great Salt Lake in Utah. The Bear River is particularly important for agriculture because it is used very intensively for irrigation.
The Bruneau River is an approx. 246 km long tributary of the Snake River. Its catchment area is the Jarbidge Mountains, from which it flows through Idaho (Owyhee County) and Nevada (Elko County). The Bruneau River is particularly popular with fans of white water: rapids, warm springs and the 370 m deep and 64 km long Bruneau Canyon make the area an ideal tour.
The Salomon River is a 684 km long river that once flows through central Idaho. It rises from the Sawtooth and Salmon River Mountains and has a height difference of approx. 230 m from source to mouth in the Snake River (on the Oregon border). It is considered the longest undamaged river in the United States and the longest that flows through a single state. Due to its rapid rapids, the Salmon River is particularly popular with fans of white water rafting, but it is not entirely safe. In some areas you can only go on the water with permission, because accidents on the river without recurrence are not uncommon.
The Snake River is also known as the Shoshone River and has a length of approximately 1,674 km. It is a tributary of the Columbia River and flows through the states of Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The source of the river is in Yellowstone National Park and from there the river also flows through the Grand Teton National Park. The Snake River flows into the Columbia River near the city of Pasco. The Snake River flows through numerous deep canyons and forms many waterfalls, such as the over 60 m high Shoshone Falls.
Mountains in Idaho
Mountains with a height of more than 3,000 m are not uncommon in Idaho. At 3,859 m, Bora Peak is the highest of them. It is located in the Lost River Range Mountains in Custer County and was named after the US Senator William Edgar Borah. It is also known as Chickenout Peak because many mountaineers mostly cancel their hike up.
At 3,151m, Cache Peak is the second highest mountain in the state. It is located in the south-central Idaho in the Albion Mountains and is the highest point in Assia County and in the region of the Snake River.
At 2,176 m, Pot Mountain is the highest mountain in the Clearwater Mountains (part of the Rocky Mountains) in Clearwater County. The view is unimaginable, because the mountain range is surrounded on three sides by the picturesque North Folk Clearwater River.
The Bitterroot Range is a mountain range along the border between the states of Idaho and Montana and is one of the Rocky Mountains. The Bitterroot Range has a length of approx. 489 km and a width of approx. 431 km. The Bitterroot Range is named after the plant Bitterwurz (English bitterroot), which is also the state plant of Montana. The highest peak in the Bitterroot Range is the Scott Peak with a height of 3,474 m.
Lakes and reservoirs in Idaho
American Falls Reservoir
The American Falls Reservoir is a 230 km² reservoir of the American Falls Dam on the Snake River. It is located in the three counties Bannock, Power and Bingham. Construction work on the reservoir first began in 1925 and continued for many decades until it came to an end in 1978. The lake is a popular local recreation area that invites you to swim, relax and do water sports. The American Falls Reservoir is a blessing especially for amateur ornithologists and anglers. Over 200 birds and dozens of different fish species are found here. The bank length of the reservoir is almost 200 km.
Bear Lake is an approximately 282 km² lake that is located in the states of Utah and Idaho. It is about 32 km long, about 13 km wide and about 63 m deep. In summer, Bear Lake is a popular destination because of its beaches, but also because of its deep blue color. Anglers will also find a good place here.
Coeur d’Alene Lake
With about 175 km of shore length, Coeur d’Alene Lake is in northern Idaho. It is about five kilometers wide and a popular lake for relaxing, paddling and fishing. However, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) does not recommend eating fish caught in the river. Due to the years of mining in the region, he was contaminated by heavy metals. Due to the construction of the dam on the Spokane River, its height has risen to 637 m above sea level.
Lake Pend Oreille
Lake Pend Oreille is a 380 m² lake in northern Idaho. It is approx. 105 km long and 350 m deep. It is the 5th deepest lake in the United States. It is located in the two counties of Bonner and Kootenai and borders on Farragut State Park.
The Palisades Dam is a dam on the Snake River in Bonneville County in eastern Idaho. Construction began in 1951 and 6 years later it was used for irrigation and flood protection for the first time. The dam also operates a 4-turbine hydropower plant that can generate up to 176 megawatts of electricity. The Palisades Dam is 82 m high and 420 m long.