Yakima River

Yakima River
State Route 10 winds past the Yakima River near the town of Thorp.
Map of the Yakima River watershed
Location
Country	United States
State	Washington
Cities	Cle Elum, Ellensburg, Yakima, Sunnyside, Richland
Physical characteristics
Source	Keechelus Lake
• location	Kittitas County, Washington
• coordinates	47°19′20″N 121°20′21″W / 47.32222°N 121.33917°W / 47.32222; -121.33917[1]
• elevation	2,520 ft (770 m)[2]
Mouth	Columbia River at Lake Wallula
• location	Richland, Benton County, Washington
• coordinates	46°15′10″N 119°13′51″W / 46.25278°N 119.23083°W / 46.25278; -119.23083[1]
• elevation	344 ft (105 m)[3]
Length	214 mi (344 km)[4]
Basin size	6,150 sq mi (15,900 km2)[4]
Discharge
• location	Kiona, RM 30[5]
• average	3,493 cu ft/s (98.9 m3/s)[5]
• minimum	225 cu ft/s (6.4 m3/s)
• maximum	59,400 cu ft/s (1,680 m3/s)
Discharge
• location	Mabton, RM 60
• average	3,311 cu ft/s (93.8 m3/s)
Discharge
• location	Union Gap, RM 107
• average	3,542 cu ft/s (100.3 m3/s)
Discharge
• location	Umtanum, RM 140
• average	2,430 cu ft/s (69 m3/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Cle Elum River, Teanaway River
• right	Naches River

The Yakima River is a tributary of the Columbia River in south central and eastern Washington state, named for the indigenous Yakama people. Lewis and Clark mention in their journals that the Chin-nâm pam (or the Lower Snake River Chamnapam Nation) called the river Tâpe têtt^[6] (also rendered Tapteete),^[7] possibly from the French tape-tête, meaning "head hit". The length of the river from headwaters to mouth is 214 miles (344 km), with an average drop of 9.85 feet per mile (1.866 m/km). It is the longest river entirely in Washington state.