Klinaklini River
The Klinaklini River /ˌkliːnəˈkliːni/ (Kwak'wala name T̓linat̓łina also spelled ƛ̓inaƛ̓ina) is one of the major rivers of the Pacific Ranges section of the Coast Mountains in the Canadian province of British Columbia. It originates in the Pantheon Range and empties into the head of Knight Inlet.
| Klinaklini River | |
|---|---|
Mouth of Klinaklini River | |
| Etymology | Kwak'wala word for eulachon grease |
| Native name |
|
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| District | Range 2 Coast Land District |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Unnamed lake |
| • location | Coast Mountains |
| • coordinates | 51°45′3″N 125°5′51″W |
| • elevation | 2,130 m (6,990 ft) |
| Mouth | Pacific Ocean |
• location | Knight Inlet, Coast Mountains |
• coordinates | 51°5′32″N 125°37′34″W |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Basin size | 5,780 km2 (2,230 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • location | mouth |
| • average | 299 m3/s (10,600 cu ft/s) |
| • minimum | 38 m3/s (1,300 cu ft/s) |
| • maximum | 3,260 m3/s (115,000 cu ft/s) |
A different spelling of Klinaklini is Kleena Kleene, which is the name of a recreational community on the river just below its exit from the Pantheon Range onto the Chilcotin Plateau. In the area of Kleena Kleene the Klinaklini, Homathko and Chilanko River basins share the same stretch of plateau.
The names Kleena Kleene and Klinaklini derive from the Kwak'wala word for eulachon grease, which is made from the eulachon, a small oily fish that ascend coastal rivers.
There is a First Nation village of the Tanakteuk subdivision of the Kwakwaka'wakw peoples at the mouth of the river, Tsawatti. Located on the Indian Reserve of the same name, it is the primary eulachon fishing and preservation site of the Kwakwaka'wakw peoples and as such is open for use by other subdivisions of the Kwakwaka'wakw.