The Fraser River
Fraser River, a river in British Columbia, Canada. The Fraser is about 850 miles (1,370 km) long and drains an area of roughly 90,000 square miles (232,300 km2). Its source is near the Alberta border in Mount Robson Provincial Park. The river flows northwestward for about 150 miles (240 km), then turns southward and flows into the Strait of Georgia, near Vancouver. Major tributaries include the Thompson, Nechako, and Chilcotin rivers.
The Fraser is a major salmon spawning ground, and salmon fishing is an important activity. The Fraser valley is noted for its scenery, parks, and historic sites. The river was discovered in 1793 by Alexander Mackenzie. Simon Fraser explored the river to its mouth in 1808. In 1858 a gold rush occurred after gold was found in the river's sands.