Waatch River Explained

Waatch River
Map Size:300
Pushpin Map:USA Washington
Pushpin Map Size:300
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of the mouth of the Waatch River in Washington
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:United States
Subdivision Type2:State
Subdivision Name2:Washington
Subdivision Type4:County
Subdivision Name4:Clallam
Source1:Olympic Mountains
Source1 Coordinates:48.2867°N -124.5903°W
Mouth:Pacific Ocean
Mouth Coordinates:48.3436°N -124.6753°W

The Waatch River is a stream on the Olympic Peninsula in the U.S. state of Washington. It originates in the northwestern Olympic Mountains and empties into the Pacific Ocean through Makah Bay.[1] The name "Waatch" comes from the Makah village name /waʔač'/, said to mean "bundling up cedar to make a torch".[2]

Course

The Waatch River originates in the northwestern portion of Olympic Peninsula in the Makah Reservation. It flows north for several miles to within a mile of Neah Bay. After collecting the tributary Educket Creek the Waatch River turns west. It empties into the Pacific Ocean at northern end of Makah Bay, south of Waatch Point and Cape Flattery, and about a mile north of the mouth of the Sooes River. The Makah Air Force Station is located at the river's mouth.[1]

See also

Notes and References

  1. General course info from USGS topographic maps accessed via the "GNIS in Google Map" feature of the USGS Geographic Names Information System website.
  2. Book: Bright, William. William Bright

    . William Bright. Native American placenames of the United States. 11 April 2011. 2004. University of Oklahoma Press. 978-0-8061-3598-4. 536.