White River
White River (Arizona) is located in Arizona
White River (Arizona)
Location of the mouth of the White River in Arizona
Location
CountryUnited States
StateArizona
CountyNavajo County, Gila County
Physical characteristics
SourceConfluence of White River's east and west forks
 • locationFort Apache, Navajo County
 • coordinates33°47′29″N 109°59′43″W / 33.79139°N 109.99528°W / 33.79139; -109.99528[1]
 • elevation4,918 ft (1,499 m)[2]
MouthSalt River
 • location
Confluence with Black River, Gila County
 • coordinates
33°44′20″N 110°13′32″W / 33.73889°N 110.22556°W / 33.73889; -110.22556[1]
 • elevation
4,222 ft (1,287 m)[1]
Length16 mi (26 km)[3]
Basin size632 sq mi (1,640 km2)[4]
Discharge 
 • location4.5 miles (7.2 km) from the mouth[4]
 • average188 cu ft/s (5.3 m3/s)[4]
 • minimum0 cu ft/s (0 m3/s)
 • maximum23,700 cu ft/s (670 m3/s)

The White River is a 16-mile (26 km) tributary of the Salt River in the U.S. state of Arizona.[3] Formed by two forks that drain part of the White Mountains, it begins in Navajo County and ends in Gila County, where it meets the Black River to form the Salt River.[5]

The White River lies entirely within the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in the east-central part of the state. The North Fork White River and the East Fork White River merge near Fort Apache to form the main stem, which continues generally southwest to its confluence with the Black River.[5]

The North Fork is 46 miles (74 km) long, and the East Fork is 26 miles (42 km) long.[3] Originating near the Mogollon Rim, the North Fork flows generally west through Apache County to near McNary and then south through Navajo County to near Fort Apache.[5][6] The East Fork flows generally west from near Mount Baldy in Apache County to the confluence with the North Fork near Fort Apache.[5][7]

According to Arizona Place Names, the river and its forks take their name from the White Mountains, "as nearly as can be determined".[8] The origin of name of the mountains is "probably lost", but "White Mountains" was used by the state's governor in a speech in 1871.[9] An earlier Spanish-language alternative name for the stream was Sierra Blanca River.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "White River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. February 8, 1980. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  2. ^ Source elevation derived from Google Earth search using GNIS source coordinates.
  3. ^ a b c "Salt River Watershed" (PDF). Arizona Department of Water Resources. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c "Water-Data Report: 09494000 White River Near Fort Apache, AZ" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d Arizona Atlas & Gazetteer (7th ed.). Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. 2008. pp. 46–47. ISBN 978-0-89933-325-0.
  6. ^ "North Fork White River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. February 8, 1980. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
  7. ^ "East Fork White River". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. February 8, 1980. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
  8. ^ Barnes, Will C. (1988). Arizona Place Names. Tucson, Arizona: The University of Arizona Press. p. 484. ISBN 0-8165-1074-1.
  9. ^ Barnes, p. 483
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