Virgin River

The Virgin River, a tributary of the Colorado, is shown highlighted on a map of the southwestern United States

North Fork Virgin River/Zion National Park

The Virgin River is a 200 mile (322 km) long tributary of the Colorado River in the southwestern United States.

It begins in Southwestern Utah, at the Navajo Reservoir in the Dixie National Forest, North of Zion National Park near Springdale, and is formed by the confluence of the East Fork Virgin, that flows through Mount Carmel Junction on the east side of Zion National Park and Parunaweap Canyon, with the North Fork Virgin River, that flows from Navajo Lake through Zion National Park. The river flows in a southwestwardly direction, passing south of old townsite of St. George where the Santa Clara River joins the Virgin at place which the Paiutes called Tonaquint. The river then flows across the northwestern corner of Arizona through the Virgin River Gorge and past the towns of Beaver Dam and Littlefield. It enters southern Nevada near the town of Mesquite and empties into the Colorado at the Lake Mead reservoir, approximately 40 miles (64 km) east of Las Vegas. The last 30 miles (48 km) of the Virgin River forms the north arm of Lake Mead.

Water in the river's lower valley provides irrigation for the cultivation of cotton, pomegranates, and figs.

The river is home to the Virgin spinedace, Lepidomeda mollispinus, a type of minnow, and the Virgin River desert sucker, Catostomus clarkii utahensis.

Virgin River Gorge

The scenic Virgin River Gorge is in northwest Arizona just south of the Utah state line. It is a popular winter rock climbing area noted for its steep and overhanging limestone walls. Interstate 15 follows the Virgin River for several miles through the Virgin River Gorge.

North Fork Virgin River/Zion National Park

See also

• List of Utah rivers
• List of Nevada rivers
• List of Arizona rivers

External links

• Zion National Park
• Picture of I-15 in the Virgin River Gorge
• VRG at Rockclimbing dot com

Colorado River system
Dams and aqueducts (see US Bureau of Reclamation)	Shadow Mountain Dam • Granby Dam • Glen Canyon Dam • Hoover Dam • Davis Dam • Parker Dam • Palo Verde Diversion Dam • Imperial Dam • Laguna Dam • Morelos Dam • Colorado River Aqueduct • San Diego Aqueduct • Central Arizona Project Aqueduct • All-American Canal • Coachella Canal • Redwall Dam
Natural features	Colorado River • Rocky Mountains • Colorado River Basin • Grand Lake • Sonoran desert • Mojave desert • Imperial Valley • Colorado Plateau • Grand Canyon • Black Canyon • Glen Canyon • Marble Canyon • New River • Paria Canyon • Gulf of California/Sea of Cortez • Salton Sea
Tributaries	Dirty Devil River • Dolores River • Escalante River • Gila River • Green River • Gunnison River • Kanab Creek • Little Colorado River • Paria River • San Juan River • Virgin River
Major reservoirs	Fontenelle Reservoir • Flaming Gorge Reservoir • Taylor Park Reservoir • Navajo Reservoir • Lake Powell • Lake Mead • Lake Mohave • Lake Havasu
Dependent states	Arizona • California • Colorado • Nevada • New Mexico • Utah (See: Colorado River Compact)
Designated areas	Glen Canyon National Recreation Area • Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Donate to Wikimedia