30 



NOETH AMERICAX FAUNA. 



[xo. L'7. 



THE LIARD RIVER VALLEY. 



A short account of Liard Eiver may well begin Avith a brief descrip- 

 tion by R. G. McConnell. who descended it from Dease Lake in the 

 summer of 1887. He says in part : 



The Liard River is one of the three principal tributaries of the Macl^enzie, 

 the other two being the Athabasca and the Peace. It has its sources west of 

 the Roclvy Mountains, one of its branches reaching to within one hundred and 

 tifty ruiles of the sea, and drains the eastern part of the broken country lying 

 between that range and the coast mountains. Its branches spread through four 

 degi'ees of latitude, from 5S° X. to 62^ N., and interlock with those of the 

 Yukon. Stikine. Skeena. and Peace Rivers. In its upper part it divides at inter- 

 vals into four nearly equal streams, the Mud or Black River, Dease River, 

 Frances River, and the branch which retains the common name. Of these the 

 latter and Black River are still practically unknown. * * Rising in the 

 elevated country west of the Rocky Mountains, the Liard falls rapidly toward 

 the east, the difference in altitude between the mouth of the Dease and the 

 Mackenzie amounting to nearly 1.650 feet, and is characterized nearly every- 

 where by impetuous currents, by dangerous rapids and narrow whirlpool-filled 

 canons. The descent of the river is greatest and its rapids most numerous, 

 while passing through, and for some distance on either side of the Rocky 

 Mountains. After leaving the foothills it is nearly free from interruptions until 

 near its junction with the Mackenzie, where a series of strong riffles occurs.*^ 



In its upper portion the Liard bears a strong superficial resemblance 

 to the upper Peace, being formed by large north and south trending 

 branches which unite west of the mountains and, like the Peace, cut 

 eastward through the main range of the Rocky Mountains. The 

 Frances, one of these branches, is formed by several streams which 

 rise close to the headwaters of the Pelly and floAv southward, while 

 the Dease takes its waters from Dease Lake, near the source of one of 

 the branches of the Stikine. Below the junction of the Frances and 

 the Dease the united river passes eastward through the mountains, 

 being interrupted by a series of dangerous rapids and receiving sev- 

 eral affluents, most of which are very imperfectly known. Fort Xel- 

 son River, entering the Liard from the south, is its principal branch 

 east of the mountains. It rises near the headwaters of Pine River 

 (north), and pursues a very tortuous, though general northerly, 

 course to the Liard. Below the junction the Liard flows northerly 

 and then northeasterly, still being bordered on the w^estern side by a 

 spur of the Rocky Moimtain range. The country east of the lower 

 Liard is mainly low and swampy in character. It is drained by 

 Black River and many smaller streams. The valley of the lower 

 Liard is heavily wooded, the largest tree being the balsam poplar 

 {Popidus hcdsomifera) . which here attains perfection of habit, and 

 from which the river is said to take its name. The other forest trees 

 also are those common to the whole region. 



a Ann. Rept. Can. Geol. Surv., IV, p. 33D, 1891. 



